1. This Image: Gobiosoma genie Bohlke &
Robins 1968, Cleaner Goby. Western
Central Atlantic: Bahamas and Grand
Cayman Island. To 4.5 cm. Bahamas
and Grand Turks images. Bold yellow
V marking on head trails into pale band
along sides.
D e l i g h t f u l • P e a c e f u l • F u n c t i o n a l
The Neon or Cleaner Gobies
Genera Gobiosoma and Elacatinus
By Robert Fenner. per se, but a “handling syndrome” where Tankmates: Foods/Feeding/Nutrition:
All images © Robert Fenner aquatic life is failing in response to poor
environment and microbial involvement. Though they’re small and obviously Gobiosoma & Elacatinus gobies are
A h, the genera Gobiosoma and
Elacatinus, mainly of the western
Atlantic. These sparkling mixed black,
My favourite species are the popular
Gobiosoma oceanops and Gobiosoma eve-
easy to pick out from the surrounding
habitat, almost all fishes, predaceous or
not, even hailing from the same ocean or
not strictly obligate symbionts; that
is, they “don’t have to” derive all
their nutrition from cleaning activity.
white, and blue or gold jewels should lynae. These two are the most intensely not, recognize Cleaner Gobies for what Especially in smaller systems (let’s say
be as common in marine aquariums as captive bred and available, though many they are and don’t inhale them… A real less than a hundred gallons) with few
Corydoras catfishes in freshwater tanks; more species should be along soon com- bonus for all! This being stated, it’s not “customers”, they should be offered
no, more so. These slivers of happiness mercially. above the usual suspects personalities small meaty food items as supplement.
are extremely hardy and of great utility; to accidentally on purpose eat these Supreme here are small Copepods and
ideal fishes for the new marine hob- Habitat: small fishes. Western Pacific and Indian Cyclops (e.g. Cyclop-Eeze) and very
byists as they will pick off parasitized Ocean Basses, Lionfishes and their small pellets (e.g. Spectrum) that they
and dead tissue from your other fishes, These gobies are found in and about relatives, Triggerfishes… may consume can fit in their tiny mouths whole. Of
making them healthier and feeling more cleaning stations, typically a roundish your gobies. On the other hand, Cleaner course, my usual plug here for tying
comfortable. live coral head of the family Poritidae or Gobies can be a bit too much for “thin in a purposeful live sump/refugium to
Faviidae, at times in and around the lip skinned” fishes like some puffers, or any Above and right: Gobiosoma randalli supply such small fare on a continual
Selection: of a vase-type sponge, not often on the given tank full of fishes… being clean is Bohlke & Robins 1968. Yellownose basis.
sandy bottom, but usually advertising fine, but enough is enough and there are or Randall’s Goby. Tropical West
Good Cleaner gobies are easy to find; their services to passing fishes in pos- situations where host fishes obviously Atlantic; Puerto Rico to Venezuela. Disease:
they almost always are of either end of sible need of a cleaning. avoid cleaners. To under two inches in length. Shown
the spectrum: healthy and ready to go, or here: an individual in captivity, and Unfortunately, like other goby spe-
rarely, on the verge of death. Look for the Yours will be happiest given a similar Looking at these species in the wild, one off Bonaire. cies, Cleaners are rather susceptible to
behavioural descriptor of “brightness” perch in a system of size. For breeding one can see them spread out as individu- Crypt/Ich infestations… and all too-
with these small fishes… that they’re purposes Cleaner gobies can be kept als, pairs, at times in “family” groupings easy to bump off with the usual treat-
out and about, looking at you, the other in ten-twenty gallon tanks, but as in of smallish individuals of the same Right: Elacatinus puncticulatus (Ginsburg ments for protozoan disease. Avoid-
fishes in their system, doing their bit to the wild, they appreciate more room species. You may find them crammed 1938), the Red Headed Neon Goby. ance of parasites is ideal, but if you do
attract their attention. to display innate behaviour in captiv- together in dealers’ tanks, but this is not Eastern Central Pacific; Sea of suffer an instance, the use of Quinine
ity. These fishes are best kept only in a natural arrangement, and your Cleaner Cortez to Ecuador. To under two Sulphate in a dedicated treatment tank,
Avoid tanks that have any Gobies full-blown reef systems, with live stony Goby/Gobies will do best kept a single inches in length. A real beauty and with careful vacuuming daily, allowing
with apparent spots or breaks in their corals and macro-algae, and the good, species to a tank, and as singles or pairs pretty tough. This one in captivity at the infested system to go fallow/w/o
skin, this batch may be in the process of consistent water quality that goes with (if you can pick them out as such) in a a wholesaler and retailers. host fishes for several weeks… is the
“breaking down”… not a specific ailment such rigs. hobby-sized system. route to go.

2. Reproduction/Aquaculture:
Looking for a marine species to try your
hand at captive breeding? Possibly for
economic gain? Look no further. The
premier Neon (Cleaner) Goby, Gobiosoma
oceanops, is a prime candidate. It has
been tank-bred and reared in commercial
quantities for years. As an example of
typical goby reproduction, we’ll describe
the process:
The parents are small and may be
maintained easily in a twenty gallon
system. They pair and spawn readily and
regularly, with demersal (bottom) eggs,
and parental care. Above: Gobiosoma illecebrosum Bohlke & Robins 1968, the Above: Gobiosoma prochilos Bohlke & Robyns 1968, the Broad-
Barsnout Goby. Central Western Atlantic; Yucatan of Mexico to stripe Goby. Tropical central West Atlantic. To four cm. Bred in
Sexing is best left up to the fish by Panama. Identified in the field by a white bar that runs midline captivity. This one in Cancun, Mexico.
purchasing a handful and letting them between the eyes, and a blue line on either side of the body that
sort things out. Individuals may be sexed extends to the tail.
with practice and close observation.
Rather than trying to describe the rela-
tive and variable body shape and colour
differences between males and females, genital papilla immediately in front of
I’d rather encourage you to gauge which their anal fins. You may need to use a
is which for the entire group via their flashlight; the males’ are cone-shaped
and pointed at the tip; those of females’
are generally only visible near spawning
and are short and rounded at the tip.
Bottom left, and left: The Sharknose Commercial breeders use short section
Goby, Gobiosoma evelynae Bohlke & of small diameter plastic pipe as spawn-
Robins 1968. Tropical West Atlantic; ing sites and raise the eggs separately
Bahamas to Venezuela. To about two from their parents, but they will spawn
inches in length. Variable in colour, and rear their young on almost anything
but yellow-V-shaped mark on nose and solid. The fry are raised on cultured
bluish stripe sandwiched between black. plankton (Euplotes & Brachionus are
Gobiosoma evelynae; in the Bahamas, recommended). The young are fully
and one in Bonaire. Pictured cleaning developed in a month; which seems fast
Cephalophis fulva until you realize their full life span is
but a year or two. Please see the refer-
Below: Gobiosoma oceanops (Jordan 1904), ences below if you are intent on breeding
THE Neon Goby. Tropical West Atlan- Gobiosoma.
tic; southern Florida to Belize. To two
inches in length. Note the one cleaning Close:
an Anthiine bass… not found anywhere
near each other in the wild. Cleaner gobies have much to recom-
mend them for almost all tropical reef
aquarium systems. They’re pretty,
interesting behaviourally, readily avail-
able and inexpensive, and they perform
a useful function in the wild and your
tanks in removing necrotic tissue and
possibly parasites, making for a much
less stressful setting for all. 
BiBlioGraphy/FurthEr rEadinG:
t.F.h. publ., nJ. neon goby. FaMa 8/79.
Chlupaty, peter. 1990. the care and breeding debelius, helmut. 1985. Gobies in the marine Wittenrich, Matthew l. 1998. reproductive
of the neon goby. tFh 1/90. aquarium, pt. 1: neon gobies. today’s aquarium behavior in Gobiosoma puncticulatus. tFh 1/98.
Colin, patrick. 1975. the neon Gobies; the 4/85. Wittenrich, Matthew. 1999. Breeding and raising
Comparative Biology of the Genus Gobio- Moe, Martin a. 1975. propagating the atlantic Gobiosoma oceanops. FaMa 7/99.
soma, Subgenus Elacatinus (pisces, Gobiidae) neon Goby. Marine aquarist 6:2, Feb.75 young, Forrest a. 1994. rearing the golden goby,
in the tropical Western atlantic ocean. Walker, Stephen d. 1979. Spawning & rearing the Elacatinus xanthipora. FaMa 12/94.