All fish / Gobiidae

Orange-striped Goby

Amblygobius decussatus

Also known as crosshatch goby, orange striped goby, decussatus goby, orange-lined goby, cross-hatched goby, アカハチハゼ属の一種, 十字虾虎

A slender sand-sifting goby with a pale body crossed by thin orange stripes along the flanks and a criss-cross pattern of lines. Aquarists keep it for its neat markings and its habit of turning over sand, which helps keep the substrate clean.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Omnivore: sifts sand for small invertebrates; offer mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and small sinking foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, Solomon Islands

Breeding

Pairs dig burrows under rocks where the male guards a clutch of eggs. Spawning sometimes happens in aquariums, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs a deep, fine sand bed and a mature tank with plenty of live rock for natural food, as thin specimens often starve. Fit a tight lid because gobies can jump, and avoid keeping it with other sand-sifting gobies in small tanks.