Encyclopaedia
Yellownose Goby
Elacatinus randalli
A tiny cleaner goby renowned for its bright gold-yellow nose stripe and reef utility.
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Atlantico occidentale: Caraibi, in particolare coste del Venezuela, Colombia e Antille.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and Caribbean
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
23 °C - 27 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Bottom
4.5 cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Tropical Atlantic: Caribbean Sea, particularly coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and the Antilles. Found on coral heads from 2 to 20 meters deep.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the Gobiidae family. Slender body with fused pelvic fins. Reaches a maximum length of 4.5 cm.
Social Behavior: Peaceful and active. Sets up prominent cleaning stations on coral heads, using a bobbing swimming motion to attract client fish.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Black body with a yellow neon stripe on the snout that transitions to blue along the body. No sexual dimorphism.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Suitable for nano reef tanks of at least 40 liters. Provide small rock caves or flat corals. A secure lid is recommended.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous. Primarily eats ectoparasites. Accepts frozen artemia, copepods, fine flake foods, and small pellets.
Water Quality: Keep reef parameters stable: temperature 23-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.025. Standard reef filtration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful with all tankmates. Large fish recognize it as a cleaner and will not harm it. Avoid large predators.
Aquarium Breeding: Lay eggs in caves or PVC tubes. The male guards the clutch. Raising larvae requires greenwater and rotifers.
Risks and Diseases: Known to jump. High resistance to typical skin parasites due to its cleaning habits and mucus layer.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Pacifico
- Diet
- Carnivoro
- Tank level
- Bottom
- 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
- Singolo o Coppia
- Feeding frequency
- 2-3 volte al giorno
- Bioload
- Low
- Flow
- Moderato
- Jump risk
- Covered tank required
- Reproduction
- Ermafrodita proteroginico. Depone uova adesive in piccole cavità o conchiglie.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Totalmente pacifico. Pulisce regolarmente altri pesci marini da parassiti.
Ecological Estimates & Biological Models
- Trophic level
- 3.4 ± 0.3 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.09
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.
