Multilineate Coral Goby

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Western Pacific, including the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, the South China Sea, and the Chesterfield Islands. It inhabits sheltered lagoons and outer reef slopes at depths ranging from 8 to 66 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the Gobiidae family, genus Gobiodon. Features a deep, laterally compressed body that lacks scales. Instead, it is covered in a bitter, toxic mucus that deters predators. It is very small, reaching a maximum length of 3.5 cm.

Social Behavior: Lives singly or in monogamous pairs within the branches of specific host corals. Highly territorial towards conspecifics, defending its selected coral head from intruders, yet entirely peaceful towards other fish species in the tank.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body is typically olive-green to brownish, adorned with several thin, pale blue or light green vertical and horizontal stripes on the head and body. No visible external dimorphism; they are bi-directional hermaphrodites.

Aquarium Setup: Suitable for nano-reefs of at least 50 liters (approx. 13 gallons). It is essential to provide live or high-quality replica small-polyp stony (SPS) corals, particularly Acropora, which serve as its primary habitat, shelter, and resting platform.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous. In captivity, feed multiple times daily with tiny foods such as copepods, rotifers, baby brine shrimp, and fine frozen mysis. They will also consume high-quality powdered marine foods and micro-granules once acclimated.

Water Quality: Keep standard reef parameters: temperature 24-27°C (75-81°F), pH 8.1-8.4, and specific gravity 1.022-1.025. Excellent filtration and low nitrate/phosphate levels are necessary to maintain both the fish and its host corals in good health.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful and reef-safe. It does not bother other fish, except for other Gobiodon species if they are not a mated pair. It is an excellent inhabitant for peaceful nano reef aquariums alongside other non-aggressive micro-reef fish.

Aquarium Breeding: Can spawn in home aquariums. The pair will clean a small patch of coral skeleton near the base of an Acropora branch to deposit their sticky eggs. The pelagic larvae are tiny and require specialized live micro-algae and rotifer cultures to raise.

Risks and Diseases: Starvation is a major risk if kept with fast, aggressive feeders. Prone to marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). Because it lacks scales, it is highly sensitive to chemical treatments; avoid copper-based medications if possible.