All fish / Gobiidae

Gold-green Reef Goby

Priolepis aureoviridis

Also known as gold green goby, golden green goby, gold-green convict goby, yes

This is a tiny, secretive reef goby with a yellowish to greenish body crossed by thin, pale, dark-edged bars. Keepers of nano reefs value it for its delicate colouring and its habit of perching in caves and crevices among the rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and central Pacific, including Hawaii, Marshall Islands and Japan

Breeding

Like other Priolepis it lays eggs inside a cave, where the male guards them until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic and very small, so raising them in captivity is rarely achieved.

Good to know

It hides a lot, so give it plenty of rockwork and avoid large or boisterous tankmates that could eat it or outcompete it for food. It is rarely offered for sale, and the name 'Yes' is probably a listing error rather than a real trade name.