Parva Goby

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-West Pacific. Inhabits sheltered sandy flats and shallow coral reef lagoons between 2 and 15 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Reaches about 10 cm. Slender cylindrical body with expressive steerable eyes and gills adapted for sand-sifting.

Social Behavior: Peaceful fish that spends its day constantly sifting fine sand for small invertebrates, often working in pairs.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Whitish or light gray background coloration striped with two longitudinal yellow or orange lines and small iridescent blue spots below the eye.

Aquarium Setup: Tank of at least 115 liters (30 gallons) equipped with a fine sand bed of minimum 5-6 cm (2 inches) thickness. Live rock must be secured directly to the bottom glass.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Feed multiple times daily with mysis, brine shrimp, finely minced crustacean meat, and high-quality sinking pellets.

Water Quality: Stable temperature of 24-29°C (75-84°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Partial water changes and strong protein skimming are indispensable.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Coexists peacefully with corals and invertebrates. May squabble with conspecifics if the tank does not offer enough space.

Aquarium Breeding: Reproduction is not reported in the hobby. Deposits adhesive eggs inside burrows dug under the rockwork.

Risks and Diseases: Jumps frequently if startled, especially at night. Cover the aquarium tightly. Risk of starvation if the sand bed is sterile.