Encyclopaedia
Key Goby
Elacatinus dilectulus
The Key Goby is a tiny, peaceful cleaner goby that helps control parasites in the reef aquarium, featuring a dark body with a light gold nose stripe.
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Western Atlantic: Florida Keys and Bahamas.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsNorth America
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
All levels
4.5 cm
Species description
Geographic Origin and Biotope: Western Atlantic: Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Found on shallow coral reefs, often associated with benthic sponges and rocky caves.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Grows up to 4.5 cm. Slim, cylindrical body with fused pelvic fins acting as a suction disk.
Social Behavior: Mutualistic cleaner goby. Sets up cleaning stations on reef rocks, picking ectoparasites off larger host fish.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dark grey-black body with a light gold to white snout stripe that ends near the eyes. Visual differences between sexes are absent.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Minimum 40 liters. Provide reef rocks with tiny crevices. Sponge corals or artificial tubes are recommended to offer natural perches.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Feeds on skin parasites. In captivity, feed mysis, brine shrimp, cyclops, and high-quality fine flakes/pellets several times daily.
Water Quality: Keep temperature at 22-26°C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity at 1.020-1.025 SG. Stable marine conditions are vital.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful cleaner. Great for community reef tanks. Do not house with large predatory fish that could swallow the goby.
Aquarium Reproduction: Cave spawner. Eggs are guarded by the male. Breeding is possible but raising pelagic larvae is difficult due to food size.
Risks and Diseases: Jumping hazard; a tight lid is mandatory. Vulnerable to rapid changes in salinity and copper medications.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Tank level
- All levels
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 L
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- 8 dKH - 12 dKH
- TDS
- n/a
- Conductivity
- n/a
- Sex ratio
- Solitary or mated pairs
- Feeding frequency
- Feed 2-3 times daily
- Bioload
- Low
- Flow
- Moderate
- Jump risk
- Covered tank required
- Reproduction
- Eggs are laid in caves or empty worm tubes. The male guards the nest. Pelagic fry are difficult to rear due to tiny initial size.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Peaceful cleaner goby. Will clean parasites off larger tankmates. Do not house with large predatory fish that could eat the goby.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
