Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Yellow watchman goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) is a marine species with an adult-size reference of about 10 cm. It needs at least 120 litres and one individual, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Wassertemperatur
24 - 27 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Unten
Erwachsenengröße
10 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 120 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A marine species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Cryptocentrus cinctus; the verified classification records genus Cryptocentrus, family Gobiidae, subfamily Gobiinae, order Gobiiformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Yellow watchman goby is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The minimum reference is one individual; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Yellow watchman goby needs an aquarium of at least 120 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of one individual. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a marine species; the card's reference values are 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is reef-safe, with a generally territorial temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “oviparity”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
A marine species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und Riffe
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Territorial
- Yellow watchman goby has a generally territorial temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- They are carnivores that feed primarily on small benthic invertebrates and zooplankton in the wild. In the aquarium, they eagerly accept a variety of meaty frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. They will also quickly learn to accept high-quality sinking marine pellets. Providing a varied, meaty diet is key to maintaining their vibrant yellow coloration.
- Lebenserwartung
- 3-5 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 10 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Solitary
- Yellow watchman goby is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The reference minimum is one individual and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- They should be fed small amounts once or twice a day. Since they rarely venture far from their burrows to feed, it is important to ensure that food currents bring morsels within their striking distance. Target feeding with a turkey baster near their burrow is an excellent way to ensure they and their symbiotic shrimp get enough to eat. Remove any large uneaten chunks to prevent water fouling.
- Bioload
- Medium
- The Yellow Watchman Goby has a very light bioload, making them an excellent choice for smaller marine or reef aquariums. Their small size and relatively sedentary lifestyle mean they produce very little waste. Standard protein skimming and regular water changes are perfectly adequate to handle their output. They are highly valued members of a reef cleanup crew, not major contributors to nutrients.
- Fluss
- Strong
- They prefer moderate water flow that mimics the gentle currents of their natural reef environment. The flow should be strong enough to bring suspended food particles past their burrow but not so strong that it constantly collapses the sand around their entrance. A well-placed powerhead that provides sweeping, indirect currents is ideal. They will spend most of their time sheltered from the strongest currents.
- Sprungrisiko
- No
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- While spawning in home aquariums has been observed, successfully rearing the fry is extremely difficult due to their microscopic size and pelagic larval stage. They are substrate spawners, laying a clutch of eggs deep within their burrow. The male takes on the role of guarding and aerating the eggs until they hatch. The larvae require specialized microscopic foods like rotifers and carefully managed rearing tanks.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Reef safe
- The cohabitation profile is reef-safe, with a generally territorial temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Tankfüllstand
- Bottom
- They are strictly bottom-dwelling fish that spend almost their entire lives hovering just outside their burrow or resting on the substrate. A deep sand bed (at least 2-3 inches) is absolutely essential for them to dig their burrows, preferably mixed with some rubble for structural integrity. They rely on their burrow for safety and will retreat into it at the first sign of danger.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase Catalog curation 2026-05-09Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,4 ± 0,4 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.09
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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