All fish / Gobiidae

Spotted Shrimp Goby

Amblyeleotris guttata

Also known as orange spotted shrimp goby, spotted prawn goby, orange-spotted prawn goby, guttata goby, spotted watchman goby, yes, ヒメダテハゼ, 橙点虾虎鱼, 斑点钝塘鳢

A pale, slender goby covered in small orange to yellow spots with darker blotches along the sides. It is kept for its fascinating partnership with alpheid pistol shrimps, sharing a burrow in which the shrimp digs and the goby keeps watch.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a mated pair, ideally with an Alpheus pistol shrimp

Diet

Carnivore: frozen mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood, small pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines and Indonesia to Japan, Great Barrier Reef, Micronesia and Samoa

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs inside the burrow and the male guards them until they hatch into tiny planktonic larvae. Captive rearing is rare and difficult because of the small larvae.

Good to know

Needs a deep sand bed and a tight lid, as it may jump when startled. It can be territorial towards other burrowing gobies, and small ornamental shrimps may be eaten.