Spotted Shrimp Goby Care Guide
Amblyeleotris guttata is a Western Pacific prawn goby with orange-spotted whitish body that shares a sand burrow with alpheid shrimp.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Amblyeleotris guttata, the Spotted Shrimp Goby, is a marine goby of the Western Pacific. FishBase describes a whitish or pale grey body bearing four to five faint dark bars and numerous bright orange spots over the head and body. Like other members of its genus it forms a symbiotic burrow partnership with alpheid (snapping) shrimp. It was described by Fowler in 1938.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Amblyeleotris
- Scientific name: Amblyeleotris guttata
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Philippines to Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Australia. It occurs on patches and expanses of coarse carbonate sand on outer lagoon and seaward reefs, typically at depths of 10 to 40 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
- Substrate: deep sand bed for burrowing
- Lifespan: 4-8 years
Diet
A carnivore that feeds on small invertebrates near its burrow in the wild. In captivity it takes meaty foods such as mysis and enriched brine shrimp, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
A peaceful, bottom-oriented fish that stays close to its burrow entrance. It pairs with pistol shrimp and tolerates calm companions including clownfish, cardinalfish and tangs, while aggressive predators and lionfish should be avoided.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe. It does not harm corals or sessile invertebrates and helps keep the sand bed turned over; provide a sand area with rubble so it can excavate a shared burrow.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 26 August 2020).
Amblyeleotris guttata Breeding Guide
Overview
Amblyeleotris guttata (Fowler, 1938) is a reef-associated goby of the Western Pacific, ranging from the Philippines to Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Australia (FishBase). It reaches about 11.0 cm standard length and inhabits patches of coarse carbonate sand on outer lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of roughly 10 to 40 m, sharing a burrow with an alpheid shrimp.
Sexing
FishBase lists no maturity or external sexing data for this species. Amblyeleotris shrimp gobies form monogamous pairs, so sex is usually inferred from a settled pairing rather than fixed markings: two compatible fish that hold one burrow together without sustained aggression are treated as a pair.
Conditioning
Conditioning relies on stable reef parameters and frequent feeding. As a carnivore, the goby takes small meaty foods such as enriched mysis, brine shrimp and finely chopped marine items roughly twice daily. A securely paired alpheid shrimp lowers stress and keeps the fish feeding near the burrow rather than hiding.
Breeding Setup
A breeding-oriented system reproduces the coarse-sand burrow biotope with several centimetres of substrate and rubble for tunnel support. Pairing with a compatible alpheid shrimp is central: the shrimp excavates and maintains the burrow while the goby acts as a lookout, the shrimp keeping almost constant antenna contact with the fish (Amblyeleotris, Wikipedia).
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Amblyeleotris gobies form monogamous pairs and lay demersal eggs inside the burrow, which the male guards until hatching (genus account). Species-specific clutch size and exact triggers for A. guttata are not given in the cited references, so they are omitted; a stable, well-fed pair with a settled shrimp partner is the practical prerequisite.
Egg & Fry Care
The male tends the demersal eggs in the burrow until they hatch, after which the larvae are planktonic (genus account). Raising these planktonic larvae requires a separate rearing tank with appropriate very small first foods and stable conditions; a detailed protocol for A. guttata is not published in the cited sources.
Common Challenges
Successful home breeding of Amblyeleotris is rare because the delicate eggs and small planktonic larvae demand specialised care. The larval phase, not pairing or settling, is the bottleneck, and a tight lid is advisable since shrimp gobies readily jump from open tanks.