All fish / Microdesmidae

Blue Hana Goby

Ptereleotris hanae

Also known as hana dartfish, filamented dartfish, blue hana dartfish, hana's dartfish, hana goby, threadtail dartfish, blue gudgeon, filament dart goby, ハナハゼ, 哈氏凹尾塘鳢, 丝尾鳍塘鳢

A slender pale blue dartfish with a yellowish head, blue markings on the face and long trailing filaments on the tail fin. It hovers in open water above a burrow and dives into it when alarmed, which makes it a lively and peaceful choice for reef tanks. In the wild it often shares burrows with pistol shrimps and shrimp gobies.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood and small pellets, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: southern Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia to Australia and Fiji

Breeding

An egg layer that spawns in burrows, with the male guarding the eggs. Captive breeding is rare and the tiny larvae are very hard to raise.

Good to know

Keep a tight-fitting lid, as dartfish often jump when startled. Provide sand and rockwork for a bolt hole, and avoid aggressive tankmates that keep it hiding.