Neon Pygmy Goby

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Western Pacific, distributed from the Ryukyu Islands to Micronesia and the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits sheltered lagoons and reef walls rich in crevices.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Family Gobiidae. Genus Eviota. Extremely small, translucent body, reaching a maximum adult size of about 2.2 cm.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, calm, and social. Spends most of its time resting on rocks or soft corals in small, cohesive groups.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Glassy body with neon yellow-orange hues and partially visible internal organs. No externally visible sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires an aquarium of at least 30 liters. Prefer porous rocks full of small holes and areas sheltered from direct flow.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Feeds on microplankton. Provide fresh or frozen copepods, cyclops, rotifers, and liquid foods formulated for corals.

Water Quality: Stable marine parameters: temperature 22-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025. Monitor water cleanliness closely.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Keep only with other peaceful pygmy fish. Avoid large or active tankmates that could accidentally harm it.

Aquarium Reproduction: Extremely complex in home aquariums. Spawning is possible but larval rearing is highly challenging.

Risks and Diseases: Sensitive to external parasites from stress if moved frequently. A tight-fitting lid is essential.