All fish / Gobiidae

Bridled Goby

Coryphopterus glaucofraenum

Also known as bridled goby, glass goby, sand goby, bridled sand goby

A small, almost see-through goby with brown and tan speckles, a dark mark behind the eye and a pale bridle line on the cheek. It sits still on sand near rubble and darts off when disturbed, and its cryptic colours suit natural reef or sand-flat setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a pair; males may squabble in small tanks

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and finely chopped meaty frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

Breeding

Males guard eggs laid on the underside of a rock or shell until they hatch. Pairs sometimes spawn in captivity, but rearing the tiny planktonic larvae is very hard and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs a fine sand bottom and plenty of hiding places, and is easily outcompeted or eaten by larger, boisterous fish. It closely resembles other Coryphopterus sand gobies, so check identification carefully.