All fish / Gobiidae

Black-edged Coral Goby

Gobiodon atrangulatus

Also known as blackedge coral goby, black-edge clown goby, coral goby, clown goby, acropora goby, コバンハゼ, 黑边珊瑚虾虎鱼

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This is a tiny, chunky goby with a body that is squashed from side to side. It is usually a dull brown to greenish colour, and the fins have dark edges. It spends its life perched among the branches of Acropora corals, so reef keepers like it as a small, characterful fish that stays close to its host coral.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair

Diet

Carnivore: small frozen foods such as mysis, copepods and enriched brine shrimp, plus fine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

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

Breeding

Pairs lay their eggs on a cleared patch of coral branch, and the male guards them until they hatch. The eggs often hatch in reef tanks, but rearing the very small larvae is difficult.

Good to know

It does best with a healthy branching Acropora colony to live in, and it may nip the coral a little. Like other Gobiodon species, its skin produces toxic mucus, and it can be mistaken for similar dark Gobiodon species in the trade.