All fish / Gobiidae

Needlespine Coral Goby

Gobiodon acicularis

Also known as needle spine coral goby, needlespine clown goby, clown goby, coral goby

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A tiny, compact clown goby with a short, rounded head and a dull green to brownish body, sometimes with faint pale lines on the face. It lives perched among the branches of Acropora and similar small-polyp stony corals, which makes it a charming resident for small 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

Single or a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: copepods, mysis, enriched brine shrimp and fine frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Palau

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on a coral branch they have cleared, and the male guards them until they hatch a few days later. Spawning happens fairly often in reef tanks, but rearing the very small larvae is difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs branching SPS corals or a safe substitute to perch in, and it may nip at its host coral. Keep away from large or boisterous fish, and note that it secretes a toxic skin mucus when stressed.