Neumann's prawn-goby
Amblyeleotris neumanni
A marine symbiotic goby from the Western Indo-Pacific, well-known for its peaceful and close cohabitation with Alpheus snapping shrimps. An excellent guard for sandy burrows.
Temperatura da água
22 - 26 °C
Valor de pH
8.1 - 8.4
Tipo de água
Marinho
Nível do tanque
Parte inferior
Tamanho adulto
7,5 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 80 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat:
Amblyeleotris neumanni, commonly known as Neumann's prawn-goby, is native to the tropical waters of the Central-Western Pacific. It is primarily found around the coral reefs of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It inhabits sandy slopes adjacent to reefs, protected lagoons, and coral rubble zones at depths of 5 to 25 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology:
Belonging to the family Gobiidae and the genus Amblyeleotris, it displays the typical elongated body shape of gobies with prominent eyes situated high on the head. It features separate dorsal fins and broad pectoral fins. This species is medium-sized for its genus, reaching a maximum adult length of about 8 to 9 centimeters.
Social Behavior:
This goby lives in a close mutualistic relationship with snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus (typically Alpheus bellulus or Alpheus ochrostriatus). The shrimp digs and maintains the shared burrow in the sand, while the goby monitors the entrance for predators. The two animals maintain continuous contact via the shrimp's antennae.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism:
The coloration is distinctive: the body has a white or beige base color, patterned with numerous small brown and reddish spots arranged in longitudinal rows. The fins are transparent or yellowish with dark streaks. External sexual dimorphism is minimal; males may show slightly longer dorsal fins than females.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup:
Requires an established marine aquarium of at least 100 liters (approx. 26 gallons) characterized by a fine sand or mixed rubble substrate with a depth of at least 6 to 8 centimeters. Rocks must be positioned directly on the bottom glass before adding sand to prevent cave-ins caused by the shrimp's excavations. A secure mesh lid is recommended.
Diet and Feeding:
It is a carnivorous micro-predator. In captivity, feed small frozen foods regularly, such as brine shrimp, mysis, copepods, and lobster eggs. Over time, it will accept small-sized sinking pellets. It is best to release food near the burrow entrance, as this goby rarely ventures far to forage.
Water Quality:
Water parameters should match a stable reef aquarium. The ideal temperature is between 24°C and 28°C (75°F to 82°F), with pH between 8.1 and 8.4 and specific gravity stable between 1.021 and 1.025. Keep nitrogenous wastes low (ammonia/nitrite at zero, nitrate under 20 ppm) and ensure good mechanical filtration and water movement.
Compatibility and Cohabitation:
It is a peaceful and reef-safe species. It coexists well with calm, small reef fish such as clownfish, anthias, fairy wrasses, and other invertebrates. Introducing a compatible Alpheus snapping shrimp is highly recommended. Avoid housing with large predatory fish or aggressive bottom dwellers like large territorial dottybacks.
Aquarium Breeding:
Captive breeding is rare and complex to achieve. Spawning occurs within the shared burrow, where the male guards the eggs until hatching. The newly hatched larvae are planktonic and require microscopic live feeds (such as rotifers and copepod nauplii) in a separate rearing tank with gentle aeration.
Risks and Diseases:
The biggest threat is jumping out of the aquarium if startled, especially during the introduction phase. They can contract typical marine skin parasites (marine ich or Oodinium) under stress or parameter instability. Keeping the substrate clean and free of anaerobic spots is crucial for the fish's gill health.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Amblyeleotris neumanni, commonly known as Neumann's prawn-goby, is native to the tropical waters of the Central-Western Pacific. It is primarily found around the coral reefs of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It inhabits sandy slopes adjacent to reefs, protected lagoons, and coral rubble zones at depths of 5 to 25 meters.
Origem
Oceanos tropicais e recifesÁfrica e MadagascarAustrália, Nova Guiné e Oceania
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Territorial
- It is a peaceful, shy, and cautious fish that prefers to stay close to the safety of its established burrow. While it will bravely defend its immediate territory from other bottom-dwellers, it ignores fish swimming higher up. Providing plenty of rubble and a quiet environment helps it feel secure and behave naturally.
- Dieta
- Carnivore
- As a micro-predator, its natural diet consists mostly of tiny benthic crustaceans and zooplankton found near the substrate. In captivity, it eagerly accepts frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and sinking carnivore pellets. Providing a varied, high-quality meaty diet is critical for maintaining its health and vibrant coloration.
- Expectativa de vida
- 4-6 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 7.5 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Flexible
- There are no obvious external differences between males and females, making sexing this species visually almost impossible. They are best kept singly or as a confirmed mated pair to avoid territorial disputes. Placing multiple unsexed individuals in a small tank usually leads to aggressive territorial battles over burrow sites.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- Feeding small portions two to three times daily is recommended to mimic its natural, continuous foraging behavior. Because it rarely ventures far from its burrow, targeted feeding near its home may be necessary in a busy tank. Care should be taken to ensure it gets enough food without overfeeding the entire system.
- Carga biológica
- Low
- This species has a minimal impact on the overall bioload of the aquarium due to its small size and sedentary lifestyle. It produces very little waste compared to more active, open-water swimmers. Routine maintenance and standard filtration are entirely sufficient to keep the water pristine.
- Fluxo
- Strong
- It favors gentle to moderate water flow, reflecting the calm sandy bottoms and rubble zones it inhabits in the ocean. Exceedingly strong currents can collapse its delicate burrow and make feeding difficult. A well-planned, indirect flow pattern allows the goby to thrive while keeping detritus from accumulating.
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- Like most gobies, this fish is easily spooked and possesses a strong instinct to jump when frightened or chased. A tight-fitting lid or a fine mesh cover is absolutely necessary to prevent it from leaping out of the aquarium. Keeping it in an open-top tank is highly risky and often ends poorly.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Captive breeding of this species is extremely rare and technically demanding, primarily due to the difficulty of raising its microscopic pelagic larvae. In their natural habitat, they are substrate spawners that lay adhesive eggs deep within the safety of their burrow. The male takes on the responsibility of guarding and oxygenating the eggs until they hatch.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Reef safe
- It is a fantastic community fish for peaceful reef aquariums, coexisting easily with corals and small, non-aggressive tank mates. This fish forms a fascinating symbiotic bond with pistol shrimp, which provides an incredible behavioral display. Large or predatory fish must be avoided, as they will easily consume this small goby.
- Nível do tanque
- Bottom
- This bottom-dwelling fish spends the vast majority of its life resting on the sand bed or hovering just outside its burrow. It relies heavily on a deep sand substrate to create its home alongside its symbiotic shrimp partner. It will only dart higher into the water column momentarily to grab a passing morsel of food.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,2 ± 0,3 se
- Resiliência
- Alta (menos de 15 meses)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.09
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
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