All fish / Gobiidae

Neon Pygmy Goby

Eviota pellucida

Also known as neon dwarf goby, pellucid pygmy goby, pellucida goby, transparent dwarfgoby, eviota goby, pygmy goby, ハゴロモベニハゼ, 透明磯塘鱧

This is a tiny, partly see-through goby with a dark line along the spine, red or orange markings on the body and a pale belly. It perches on live rock and coral branches, which makes it a good choice for nano reefs and peaceful reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

2.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Singly, in a pair or as a small group in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: copepods, rotifers, baby brine shrimp, cyclops and finely chopped frozen meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 2 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

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

Breeding

Males guard demersal eggs laid in small crevices, and the larvae are tiny and planktonic. Spawning can happen in mature reef tanks, but raising the larvae is very difficult and seldom done.

Good to know

Because it is so small, it is easily eaten by larger fish and some corals and anemones, and it can starve in new tanks without copepods. Like other Eviota it lives a short time, so a lifespan of around a year is normal.