All fish / Gobiidae

Steinitz's Prawn Goby

Amblyeleotris steinitzi

Also known as steinitz goby, steinitz shrimp goby, steinitz's shrimp goby, pink-banded shrimp goby, brown-banded shrimp goby, steinitz watchman goby, steinitzi goby, ヒレナガハゼ, 斯氏钝塘鳢, 史氏钝虾虎

A slender, pale goby with five brownish bands across the body and small yellow spots on the head and fins. It is kept for its fascinating partnership with burrowing pistol shrimp, where the goby keeps watch while the shrimp digs and maintains the shared burrow.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair, ideally with an Alpheus pistol shrimp

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to Japan, south to Australia

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs inside the burrow, which the male guards until they hatch into tiny planktonic larvae. Captive spawning happens occasionally but rearing the larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs a deep sand bed of fine substrate and a tight lid, as startled gobies can jump. Avoid keeping with large predators or aggressive fish that will bully it or eat its shrimp partner.