All fish / Gobiidae

Red Head Goby

Elacatinus puncticulatus

Also known as redhead goby, red-headed goby, spotcheek goby, red head neon goby, yes, レッドヘッドゴビー, 红头霓虹虾虎

A small, slim goby with a bright red to orange head, a yellow-green stripe behind the eye and a dark body line set against a pale belly. It is kept for its colour, hardiness and habit of acting as a cleaner fish, removing parasites from tankmates, and it is safe with corals and invertebrates.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Single or a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: frozen mysis and brine shrimp, copepods, small pellets and flakes; also picks parasites off other fish

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Ecuador, including Galapagos

Breeding

Pairs lay adhesive eggs in a sheltered hole or crevice and the male guards them until they hatch. Captive-bred fish are available, though rearing the tiny planktonic larvae needs live rotifers and is challenging at home.

Good to know

Keep away from large predatory fish that may eat it, and avoid mixing several unpaired gobies in a small tank as they may squabble.