Barber Goby
Elacatinus figaro
Endemic to Brazil, this striking black-and-yellow striped goby masterfully picks parasites from larger fish. Its mutualistic nature and energetic cleaning dances make it a captivating reef occupant.
Wassertemperatur
22 - 28 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Alle Ebenen
Erwachsenengröße
3,5 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 40 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Southwestern Atlantic. Endemic to the coasts of Brazil, where it inhabits coral reefs and rocky areas rich in life between 3 and 20 meters. They are found on rocky reefs and coral formations where they set up cleaning stations.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Gobiidae. Reaches about 3-3.5 cm. Elongated cylindrical body with pelvic fins fused to form a suction cup to adhere to rocks or glass. Their body is slender with a small mouth adapted to pick off tiny ectoparasites.
Social Behavior: Active and peaceful cleaner goby. Establishes cleaning stations where larger fish position themselves specifically to have external parasites removed. They are active cleaner gobies that perform cleaning dances to attract clients.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Glossy black body with two brilliant yellow longitudinal stripes running from the eyes to the tail. Light throat and belly. No obvious sexual dimorphism. The bright yellow lateral stripe is highly visible, signaling their service to other fish.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Also suitable for small nano reef aquariums (from 40 liters / 10 gallons). Requires plenty of live rock with small crevices and caves for shelter. A reef tank with live rock and sand is the ideal setting for this goby.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. In captivity, it feeds on mysis, brine shrimp, lobster eggs, and finely crushed dry foods. Complements its diet by cleaning other fish. Feed finely chopped frozen foods, copepods, and high-quality powdered dry foods.
Water Quality: Maintain temperature at 24-27°C (tolerates 22-28°C), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Requires clean and stable water. Maintain clean water with standard reef parameters to ensure their health.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Ideal tankmate for any peaceful small to medium-sized fish. Avoid large predators (groupers, lionfish) that would eat it. Extremely peaceful; they can be kept with larger fish that would normally eat small gobies.
Aquarium Breeding: Breeds in the aquarium, laying adhesive eggs in crevices. Fry can be raised using rotifers and artemia nauplii. They can spawn in captivity, laying eggs inside PVC pipes or small caves.
Risks and Diseases: High jump risk due to its small size. It is essential to keep the tank covered. Sensitive to copper-based disease treatments. Make sure the overflow and pump intakes are covered to prevent them from being sucked in.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Tropical Southwestern Atlantic. Endemic to the coasts of Brazil, where it inhabits coral reefs and rocky areas rich in life between 3 and 20 meters. They are found on rocky reefs and coral formations where they set up cleaning stations.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeExtra-Amazonas-Südamerika
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Territorial
- The {sp} is famous for its bold, industrious, and completely peaceful temperament. Despite its tiny size, it shows no fear of massive fish, eagerly swimming up to clean their gills and scales. It is fascinating to watch it interact with tank mates, setting up cleaning stations and performing its natural duties. It is a highly beneficial and entertaining addition to any marine setup.
- Diät
- Carnivore
- While it performs a cleaning function by picking parasites and dead skin off larger fish, this alone cannot sustain it in captivity. Its diet must be heavily supplemented with small, meaty foods like frozen cyclops, baby brine shrimp, and finely chopped mysis. They will also readily accept high-quality micro-pellets and crushed flakes. Ensuring they receive enough food directly is crucial, as they can be outcompeted by faster swimmers.
- Lebenserwartung
- 1-1.5 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 3.5 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Group
- There are no significant visual differences between the sexes, making them difficult to pair based on appearance alone. They can be kept singly or in pairs, though buying an established mated pair is the easiest way to ensure harmony. Two males may fight in smaller tanks, so caution is advised if keeping multiple individuals in a confined space. In large tanks, a small group may establish a peaceful hierarchy.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- Because of their small stomachs and high metabolism, they should be fed multiple small meals a day. Two to three targeted feedings are ideal to keep them healthy and active. If kept in a tank with larger fish that they actively clean, they may supplement their own diet, but direct feeding is still necessary. Turning off the flow briefly during feeding helps them catch the food.
- Bioload
- Low
- The Elacatinus figaro adds an extremely minimal bioload to the marine aquarium due to its tiny size. It produces almost imperceptible amounts of waste, making it perfect for nano reefs or heavily stocked larger tanks. Regular, standard filtration systems will handle its biological impact without any issues. It is one of the most environmentally friendly fish to keep in terms of water quality management.
- Fluss
- Strong
- They prefer moderate water flow that allows them to swim easily between their perching spots. Too strong a current can blow them around, making it difficult for them to establish a cleaning station or catch food. They often sit on prominent rocks or coral heads in areas of gentle flow to advertise their cleaning services. Ensure there are low-flow crevices for them to sleep in at night.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- Like most gobies, the {sp} is a known jumper, especially when startled by a sudden movement or aggressive tank mate. Because of their tiny, slender bodies, they can find their way through remarkably small gaps in an aquarium canopy. A perfectly fitted mesh screen lid is an absolute requirement to keep them safe. Uncovered tanks will almost inevitably result in the fish jumping out over time.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- This species can be bred in the home aquarium with dedicated effort and proper conditioning. The female lays a clutch of adhesive eggs in a small cave or crevice, which the male then aggressively guards until they hatch. The primary challenge lies in rearing the extremely tiny fry, which require microscopic live foods like rotifers immediately after hatching. Successful breeding often requires a dedicated rearing tank.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Peaceful
- This goby is exceptionally peaceful and completely reef-safe, making it a stellar community fish. In the wild, it operates as a cleaner fish, and larger predatory fish in the aquarium will often recognize this and allow it to clean them. It gets along with almost all peaceful and even moderately aggressive fish that respect its cleaner status. It will not bother corals, clams, or small ornamental shrimp.
- Tankfüllstand
- All levels
- This goby is a benthic species that spends most of its time perched on live rock, corals, or the glass. It establishes a specific territory, often a prominent 'cleaning station', where it waits for other fish to approach. It rarely swims in the open water column unless darting out to grab a piece of food. You will often see it clinging vertically to the aquarium glass or tank decor.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,4 ± 0,3 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)
Verwandte Arten
Empfehlungen gruppiert nach nahen Verwandten, Auswahl von Begleitern und ähnlicher Betreuung.
