All fish / Gobiidae

Flaming Prawn Goby

Discordipinna griessingeri

Also known as flaming prawn goby, spikefin goby, griessinger's goby, flame prawn goby, spike fin goby, discordipinna goby, ヒレフリサンカクハゼ, 火焰虾虎

This tiny goby has a pale body covered in reddish-orange spots, with a tall, spiky first dorsal fin and large, dark, flared pectoral and tail fins that it constantly flicks. Its odd shape and jerky hopping around the rockwork make it a favourite in nano reefs, though it is shy and often hides.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: copepods, mysis, enriched brine shrimp and other small frozen meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, the Philippines and the Marshall Islands

Breeding

It is a cave spawner that lays eggs in a crevice guarded by the male. Spawning has occasionally been seen in home reefs, but rearing the tiny larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Keep it only with small, peaceful tankmates in a mature reef with plenty of live rock and copepods, as it is easily outcompeted and may starve. It can jump, so use a tight lid.