Morishita's Shrimpgoby
Amblyeleotris morishitai
A rare symbiotic goby highly sought after by hobbyists, described in 2007 from the Ryukyu Islands. It offers unique behavior and an exceptional look when paired with its shrimp.
Wassertemperatur
22 - 26 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Unten
Erwachsenengröße
10 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 80 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. Inhabits sandy lagoons, outer reef slopes, and bays at depths between 1 and 25 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Genus Amblyeleotris, family Gobiidae. Cylindrical, elongated body with large eyes positioned high on the head. Grows to 10.0 cm.
Social Behavior: Symbiotic. Shares a sandy burrow with snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus in a cooperative relationship.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Named in honor of the Japanese aquarist Mr. Morishita who first discovered the species. No strong sexual dimorphism; mature males may display slightly taller or more patterned dorsal fins. This species features a robust head with cycloid scales that blend toward the caudal region. The density of the small, iridescent blue spots on the head can vary slightly among different local populations in the Ryukyu Islands.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Needs a tank of at least 80.0 liters with a fine sand bed of 5-8 cm depth. Secure rockwork directly to the glass bottom to prevent collapses.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous. Feeds on zooplankton and small benthic organisms. Feed mysis, brine shrimp, and small pellets close to the burrow entrance.
Water Quality: Standard marine conditions: temperature 22.0-26.0 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Perfect for peaceful community tanks. Keeping them with a symbiotic Alpheus shrimp is highly recommended.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous. Eggs are laid inside the burrow and guarded by the pair; raising the larvae in captivity is extremely rare.
Risks and Diseases: Jump risk when startled. Heavy digging by the symbiotic shrimp can destabilize poorly placed rocks. It is advisable to monitor cohabitation if other territorial benthic gobies are present in the tank. The associated Alpheus shrimp may occasionally excavate beneath the rockwork, so the stability of the structures must be checked periodically.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. Inhabits sandy lagoons, outer reef slopes, and bays at depths between 1 and 25 meters.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeOstasien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Territorial
- It is a peaceful, shy, and cautious fish that prefers to stay close to the safety of its established burrow. While it will bravely defend its immediate territory from other bottom-dwellers, it ignores fish swimming higher up. Providing plenty of rubble and a quiet environment helps it feel secure and behave naturally.
- Diät
- Carnivore
- As a micro-predator, its natural diet consists mostly of tiny benthic crustaceans and zooplankton found near the substrate. In captivity, it eagerly accepts frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and sinking carnivore pellets. Providing a varied, high-quality meaty diet is critical for maintaining its health and vibrant coloration.
- Lebenserwartung
- 5-7 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 10 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Pair
- There are no obvious external differences between males and females, making sexing this species visually almost impossible. They are best kept singly or as a confirmed mated pair to avoid territorial disputes. Placing multiple unsexed individuals in a small tank usually leads to aggressive territorial battles over burrow sites.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- Feeding small portions two to three times daily is recommended to mimic its natural, continuous foraging behavior. Because it rarely ventures far from its burrow, targeted feeding near its home may be necessary in a busy tank. Care should be taken to ensure it gets enough food without overfeeding the entire system.
- Bioload
- Low to Medium
- This species has a minimal impact on the overall bioload of the aquarium due to its small size and sedentary lifestyle. It produces very little waste compared to more active, open-water swimmers. Routine maintenance and standard filtration are entirely sufficient to keep the water pristine.
- Fluss
- Moderate
- It favors gentle to moderate water flow, reflecting the calm sandy bottoms and rubble zones it inhabits in the ocean. Exceedingly strong currents can collapse its delicate burrow and make feeding difficult. A well-planned, indirect flow pattern allows the goby to thrive while keeping detritus from accumulating.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- Like most gobies, this fish is easily spooked and possesses a strong instinct to jump when frightened or chased. A tight-fitting lid or a fine mesh cover is absolutely necessary to prevent it from leaping out of the aquarium. Keeping it in an open-top tank is highly risky and often ends poorly.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- Captive breeding of this species is extremely rare and technically demanding, primarily due to the difficulty of raising its microscopic pelagic larvae. In their natural habitat, they are substrate spawners that lay adhesive eggs deep within the safety of their burrow. The male takes on the responsibility of guarding and oxygenating the eggs until they hatch.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Verify
- It is a fantastic community fish for peaceful reef aquariums, coexisting easily with corals and small, non-aggressive tank mates. This fish forms a fascinating symbiotic bond with pistol shrimp, which provides an incredible behavioral display. Large or predatory fish must be avoided, as they will easily consume this small goby.
- Tankfüllstand
- Bottom
- This bottom-dwelling fish spends the vast majority of its life resting on the sand bed or hovering just outside its burrow. It relies heavily on a deep sand substrate to create its home alongside its symbiotic shrimp partner. It will only dart higher into the water column momentarily to grab a passing morsel of food.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.01023, b = 3.01
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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