Ctenogobiops Sand Goby

Ctenogobiops is a genus of small, sand-dwelling gobies distributed across the Indo-Pacific that are among the most dedicated shrimp-goby symbiosis participants. These slender, semi-transparent to white gobies with rows of orange-red spots or dashes on the body typically reach 5–7 cm and spend their lives hovering just above the entrance to a burrow excavated and maintained by a partner Alpheus snapping shrimp. The shrimp, which has poor eyesight, stays in constant tactile contact with the goby's tail while working; the goby provides the visual sentinel role, signalling with rapid tail flicks when predators approach. In the aquarium this fascinating relationship can be recreated by housing a Ctenogobiops with a compatible Alpheus species on a deep fine-sand substrate. The gobies are peaceful, delicate, and require pristine water quality. Suitable for nano to medium reef or brackish sandy biotope setups.

Water: 24–28 °C, pH 7.8–8.5, GH 15–30, KH 8–20; full marine to low brackish; stable, pristine water quality essential. Tank: 60 L minimum; deep fine-sand substrate (8–10 cm); open sand area with rubble; pair with Alpheus shrimp. Feeding: Carnivore; small frozen mysis shrimp, copepods, and brine shrimp; may accept nano sinking pellets. Breeding: Burrow spawner; rarely bred in captivity; pair bond with single male and female. Compatibility: Peaceful; reef-safe; compatible with most peaceful nano reef fish; do not house with predatory fish.