Five-lined Coral Goby

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indo-Pacific: Philippines to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Tonga. Lives commensally among branching Acropora corals.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Reaches a maximum size of 4.5 cm. Features a compressed, scale-less body with a toxic mucus layer.

Social Behavior: Coral-commensal species. Lives in monogamous pairs or small groups within the branches of branching corals for protection.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body is dark reddish-brown to grayish, featuring five prominent vertical blue-white lines on the head. Bi-directional hermaphrodite.

Aquarium Setup: Minimum 60 liters. Must be provided with branching Acropora stony corals to live and hide in, simulating its natural reef habitat.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Offer small, meaty foods such as cyclops, copepods, rotifers, and finely minced frozen mysis twice daily.

Water Quality: Maintain stable marine parameters: temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025 SG. Good filtration is necessary.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful towards other fish. May argue with other clown gobies for breeding space. Completely safe with invertebrates.

Aquarium Breeding: Lays adhesive eggs on the branches of corals, clearing a small patch of tissue. The male guards the nest. Rearing larvae is difficult.

Risks and Diseases: Small size makes it vulnerable to being sucked into open filter intakes. Coral polyp nipping occurs during nesting but rarely kills the coral.