ORA Bluefin Watchman Shrimp Goby Captive-Bred

About the ORA Bluefin Watchman Shrimp Goby Captive-Bred

Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Carnivore
Max Size: 3 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons

Watchman Gobies are fascinating reef fish. The Watchman name comes from their symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp. The gobies are the lookouts and the shrimp are the burrow diggers/keepers. While the shrimp is digging it keeps one antenna on the fish’s tail. When a predator approaches, the goby wiggles its tail as a warning and the fish and shrimp duck into their shared burrow.

Each of the Watchman Goby’s eyes move independently which allows them to see predators approaching from behind. Their charming faces sport a perpetual pout. They usually have beautiful golden yellow bodies with small turquoise dots around the head and dorsal area. It is not easy to distinguish a male from a female but there is some speculation that the females are normally grayer in color.

The Watchman Goby is a fish that enjoys resting on the bottom of the aquarium. These fish have a high dorsal fin or spine and bright blue spots on their head, fins, and body.

Gobies compose one of the largest family of fish in the ocean. These small fish live around reefs or on sandy flats. Many of the Gobies are known for burrowing in the sand for safety, and shrimp gobies are known to share their burrows with Pistol Shrimp. Most Gobies have cupped ventral fins that nearly join just below their gill plates that serve as perching mechanisms so the Goby can always be on the lookout in a resting position.

Gobies will readily accept a varied diet of Mysis shrimp, pellets or flake foods.  Their interactive personality makes them a truly desirable addition.