Diagonal-bar Shrimpgoby

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Found on sandy patches near outer reefs from 2 to 30 meters deep.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Slender body with large, close-set eyes on top of the head. Reaches 11.0 cm in length.

Social Behavior: Symbiotic. Shares a burrow with Alpheus snapping shrimp, acting as the eyes and lookout for the shrimp while it digs.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Whitish-grey base color with 5 prominent diagonal orange-brown bands. Iridescent blue spots scatter across the head. No sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 100 liters with a deep substrate of mixed sand, gravel, and shell rubble. Rock structures must be secure. Secure lid is mandatory.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous. Feeds on benthic invertebrates. Accepts frozen mysis, artemia, chopped table shrimp, and sinking carnivore pellets.

Water Quality: Keep reef parameters stable: temperature 22-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.025. Standard reef filtration.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful with other fish. Keep with a compatible Alpheus shrimp. Avoid housing with aggressive bottom dwellers.

Aquarium Breeding: Spawns inside the shared burrow. Both parents protect the nest. Rearing the planktonic larvae is extremely difficult.

Risks and Diseases: Known to jump if startled. Starvation risk if it does not establish its burrow with a shrimp partner.