Signigobius
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Signigobius biocellatus, Signal Goby. Scott W. Michael
Family: Gobiidae
Species in Genus Signigobius:
TWINSPOT OR SIGNAL GOBY
This unique goby is a heartbreaker—interesting and attractive, but difficult to keep and often starving to death despite the aquarist’s best efforts.
A sand bed is an imperative if you want to try to succeed, and consider stocking its favorite prey, infaunal animals like worms, copepods, and amphipods. (It doesn’t take long for this vigorous substrate sifter to decimate populations of infaunal invertebrates.)
This fish will usually eat frozen mysid shrimp and black worms off the sand surface and will need to be fed four or five times a day (more if possible) to increase its chances of survival. If these foods never get to the bottom because of other aggressive feeders in the tank, this goby will starve.
An adult Twinspot will disturb the upper 1 in. (2.5 cm) of sand when feeding. When constructing a burrow, it will dig even deeper into the sand bed.
It is usually sold in pairs and is thought to do better when such pairs are kept together. It is essential to provide suitable hiding places. Lay a flat rock on the sand surface that this fish can dig under.
Deworming may also facilitate its care. If pestered by tankmates, it will not survive.
| Family | Gobiidae + |
| Image credit | SWM + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes + |
| Text credit | SWM + |