Amblygobius
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Amblygobius sphynx, Sphinx Goby. Scott W. Michael
Family: Gobiidae
Species in Genus Amblygobius:
HOVER GOBIES
Hover gobies are wonderful reef aquarium fishes—and accurately named: they spend much of their time hovering in the water column, alert to feeding opportunities and predators. Most are omnivorous, feeding on algae and tiny invertebrates. Some sift sand and debris, filtering out small invertebrates from the sediment.
They do much better in captivity when housed in an established tank with some growth of filamentous algae. If the tank does not support an algal crop, they tend to become emaciated. It is possible to get these fishes to accept introduced fare, like vitamin-enriched live and frozen brine shrimp, mysid shrimp, and prepared foods for herbivores.
With the exception of closely related species, the Amblygobius species are rarely aggressively toward fish tankmates. It is best to keep only one individual of a species per tank, but you may be able to get them to pair up and spawn if your tank is large enough. They do best if housed with peaceful species. They will jump out of open aquariums if they are harassed by aggressive tankmates or if startled when the lights are turned off.
| Family | Gobiidae + |
| Image credit | SWM + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes + |
| Text credit | SWM + |