Banded Goby

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Amblygobius phalaena - (Valenciennes, 1837)
Banded Goby

The Banded Goby eats large quantities of algae in the wild and will do better in captivity if similar fare is provided. Scott W. Michael

[edit] Overview

This handsome fish will help keep the upper layers of live sand stirred. It spends more time sifting and penetrates deeper into the sand bed than smaller congeners.

Family: Gobiidae

Other common name(s):

  • Brown-barred Goby
  • White-spotted Goby

Native range:

Habitat: The Banded Goby inhabits coastal reefs and lagoons on sand and rubble margins of algal reefs and sometimes near seagrass beds.

Maximum length: 15 cm (6 in)

Minimum aquarium size: 76 L (20 gal)

Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)

[edit] Feeding

Feed meaty foods, like vitamin-enriched live and frozen brine shrimp and mysid shrimp, as well as prepared foods for herbivores. It eats large quantities of algae in the wild, and will do better if provided with similar fare in the aquarium.

If placed in a tank without algae, live sand, or live rock, feed at least twice a day. If natural foods are present, feed every other day.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

Although it is usually not a threat to sessile invertebrates, I did have one that pulled zoanthids off a rock. It will also eat noxious flatworms. It is rarely quarrelsome with heterospecifics, but will fight with members of its own species. Do not keep it with aggressive species that stay on or near the substrate. If the tank is large enough, it is usually ignored by its tankmates.


[edit] Notes

This species tends to be hardier than A. rainfordi.

Reference: A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes
Image credit: SWM
Text credit: SWM
Facts about Banded GobyRDF feed
Common name Banded Goby  +, Brown-barred Goby  +, and White-spotted Goby  +
Family Gobiidae  +
Genus Amblygobius  +
Image credit SWM  +
Maximum length 6 in  +
Minimum aquarium size 20 gal  +
Native range Philippines  +, Society Islands  +, Ryukyu Islands  +, Southern Australia  +, Rapa Island  +, and Micronesia  +
Reference A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes  +
Specific name phalaena  +
Text credit SWM  +
Water max temp 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F)  +
Water min temp 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F)  +
Water type Marine  +
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