All fish / Gobiidae

Tangaroa Shrimp Goby

Ctenogobiops tangaroai

Also known as tangaroa goby, tangaroa shrimpgoby, ctenogobiops tangaroa, pink spotted shrimp goby, shrimp goby, tangaroai goby, ホタテツノハゼ, 丝鳍栉眼虾虎鱼

A small, pale shrimp goby with rows of golden to orange spots along the body and a tall first dorsal fin with elongated front rays. It is kept for its fascinating partnership with alpheid pistol shrimps, sharing a burrow in which the shrimp digs while the goby keeps watch.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

24 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 prawn, copepods and quality frozen or small pellet foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and central Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Japan (Ryukyus), Micronesia to Samoa and Tonga

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs inside their burrow and the male guards them until they hatch into tiny planktonic larvae. Spawning occasionally happens in reef tanks, but rearing the larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs a deep, fine sand bed and a tight-fitting lid as it may jump when startled. Avoid housing with large or aggressive tankmates that will bully it or eat its shrimp partner.