Glossary:
For a peaceful, small, and colorful fish that makes a great addition to any saltwater tank, consider getting a Neon goby. This species, Elacatinus oceanops, is great for beginners and features a colorful blue stripe that lends the fish its common name.
If you’re not sure whether the Neon goby is right for you, the following guide will help you determine if adding this fish to your tank is the right move.
Want to add the Neon goby to a reef tank? You’ll find that this species is the ideal choice. As a peaceful species that gets along well with most other fish, you’ll find this fish will complement the coral and other inverts in your reef tank.
The Neon goby is a carnivorous fish requiring plenty of meaty foods to thrive. Typically, these fish function as cleaner fish and will feed off the parasites living on other larger fish. Additionally, you can feed them plenty of other foods such as Mysis shrimp and brine shrimp.
Neon gobies get along fairly well with each other for the most part. While males may get into fights with each other, this isn’t a huge risk in most cases. If you want to keep more than one Neon goby in your tank, you’re not likely to run into trouble.
Generally, the ideal temperature to keep your Neon goby in is around 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20° – 27.7° C. However, you will need to increase aeration and oxygenation the higher the temperature is in your tank.
The Neon goby doesn’t have a very long lifespan, unfortunately. These fish tend to live for around 12 to 18 months in captivity, so don’t plan on getting too attached to your gobies.
The price of a Neon goby will depend on factors such as availability, size, and others. However, these fish are typically affordable, as you’ll find them on the market for around $15 to $30 on average.
The following are some interesting facts you might want to know about the Neon goby:
The peaceful nature of the Neon goby makes it compatible with a wide range of other peaceful fish. They’re typically best to keep with smaller tank environments because of their diminutive size. You can also keep them in breeding pairs.
Some examples of ideal tank mates for the Neon goby include:
You can find Neon gobies in many physical and online aquarium stores. Some places to look online include:
For a hardy fish that’s pretty easy to keep, maintain, and breed, consider adding the Neon goby to your saltwater tank. This fish is widely available, affordable, and colorful, making it a great complement to the other fish and invertebrates in your tank.