All fish / Gobiidae

Yasha Goby

Stonogobiops yasha

Also known as yasha shrimp goby, yasha hashe goby, orange stripe prawn goby, orange-striped shrimp goby, yasha watchman goby, yashi goby, yasha hase goby, ヤシャハゼ, 夜叉鰕虎, 黄鳍夜叉鰕虎

A small white goby with diagonal orange to red bands running along the body, a black-tipped tall first dorsal fin and a yellowish face. Keepers prize it for its striking colours and for its close partnership with Alpheus randalli pistol shrimp, sharing a burrow in the sand.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair, ideally with a Randall's pistol shrimp

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: southern Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and Micronesia

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs inside their burrow and the male guards them until they hatch into tiny pelagic larvae. Spawning sometimes happens in home tanks, but raising the larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Shy and easily bullied, so avoid boisterous tankmates and give a deep fine sand bed with a secure lid, as it can jump. Most are wild caught and fairly costly, so let them settle with plenty of small meals.