Species Profiles
2402 articles- Five-Lined Cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) Care GuideCheilodipterus quinquelineatus is an Indo-Pacific cardinalfish with five black lines and a yellow tail base; it preys on small crustaceans a
- Iridescent Cardinalfish (Pristiapogon kallopterus) Care GuidePristiapogon kallopterus is a widespread Indo-Pacific cardinalfish of lagoon and seaward reefs that feeds at night on small crustaceans.
- Threadfin Cardinalfish (Zoramia leptacantha) Care GuideZoramia leptacantha is a small, translucent Indo-Pacific cardinalfish that forms dense aggregations above branching coral and breeds in mono
- Black-Striped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) Care GuideOstorhinchus nigrofasciatus is an Indo-Pacific cardinalfish with alternating black and yellow stripes that lives singly or in pairs under re
- Yellow-Striped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) Care GuideOstorhinchus cyanosoma is a small Indo-Pacific cardinalfish with orange-yellow stripes that forms aggregations on sheltered reefs and is bre
- Ochre-striped Cardinalfish (Apogon compressus) Care GuideApogon compressus is a nocturnal Indo-West Pacific cardinalfish that shelters near branching corals; juveniles mimic Cheilodipterus species.
- Pearl Cardinalfish (Apogon margaritophorus) Care GuideApogon margaritophorus is a small nocturnal cardinalfish of shallow Western Pacific coral reefs, a mouthbrooder kept in peaceful marine aqua
- Orbiculate Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia orbicularis) Care GuideSphaeramia orbicularis is an Indo-Pacific cardinalfish of sheltered coastal shores and mangroves, reaching about 10 cm.
- Circled Dragonet (Synchiropus circularis) Care GuideSynchiropus circularis is a small Western Pacific dragonet of sand-rubble bottoms on seaward reefs, a benthic invertebrate feeder.
- Moyer's Dragonet (Synchiropus moyeri) Care GuideSynchiropus moyeri is a Western Pacific dragonet of coastal reef slopes reaching about 7.5 cm, a benthic invertebrate feeder.
- Starry Dragonet (Synchiropus stellatus) Care GuideSynchiropus stellatus is an Indian Ocean dragonet of coastal reefs reaching about 7.5 cm, a benthic invertebrate feeder.
- Ocellated Dragonet (Synchiropus ocellatus) Care GuideSynchiropus ocellatus is a small Pacific dragonet of sheltered rocky reefs, a benthic invertebrate feeder reaching about 9 cm.
- Bridled Goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) Care GuideCoryphopterus glaucofraenum is a Western Atlantic sand-dwelling goby reaching about 8 cm, common over white sand near reefs.
- Threadfin Reefgoby (Priolepis nuchifasciata) Care GuidePriolepis nuchifasciata is a small cryptic Western Pacific reefgoby that lives in small caves, reaching about 4 cm.
- Spikefin Goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) Care GuideDiscordipinna griessingeri is a tiny Indo-Pacific goby with a tall spiky dorsal fin, reaching about 3 cm.
- White-line Dwarfgoby (Eviota albolineata) Care GuideEviota albolineata is a small Pacific dwarfgoby of shallow lagoon and channel reefs, reaching about 3.6 cm.
- Spotted Dwarfgoby (Eviota guttata) Care GuideEviota guttata is a tiny Indian Ocean dwarfgoby reaching about 3.2 cm, living on shallow mixed coral and algal reefs.
- Okinawa Goby Care GuideTrimma okinawae is a tiny Western Pacific pygmy goby of clear coastal reefs that hovers in caves and is a bi-directional sex changer.
- Pink Eye Goby Care GuideTrimma cana is a tiny Western Pacific pygmy goby found on hard corals of steep outer reef slopes, suited to peaceful nano reef tanks.
- Sixspot Sleeper Goby Care GuideValenciennea sexguttata is an Indo-Pacific sand-sifting goby with blue spots that lives in monogamous pairs within burrows under rocks.
- Black-Lined Sleeper Goby Care GuideValenciennea helsdingenii is an Indo-West Pacific sand-sifting goby with two dark stripes; it is a relatively rare, monogamous mound-builder
- Ward's Tiger Goby Care GuideValenciennea wardii is a rare Indo-Pacific sand-sifting goby with brown body bars; it occurs in pairs on sandy lagoon and silty reef substra
- Sharknose Goby Care GuideElacatinus evelynae is a small Western Atlantic cleaner goby that removes ectoparasites from larger reef fish and pairs well in nano marine
- Greenbanded Goby Care GuideElacatinus multifasciatus is a tiny Western Atlantic goby marked with many pale green bars that shelters among rock-boring urchin spines.
- Multi-lined Coral Goby Care GuideGobiodon multilineatus is a tiny Western Pacific coral goby that lives among Acropora corals and forms monogamous pairs.
- Yellowlined Coral Goby Care GuideGobiodon axillaris is a tiny Indo-West Pacific coral goby that perches among Acropora corals; the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.
- Earspot Coral Goby Care GuideGobiodon atrangulatus is a tiny Western Pacific coral goby that lives among Acropora corals in an obligate, monogamous social system.
- Green Clown Goby Care GuideGobiodon histrio is a tiny green coral goby of the Indo-West Pacific that perches on Acropora and releases a toxin to deter predators.
- Citron Goby Care GuideGobiodon citrinus is a small Indo-West Pacific coral goby with blue eye bars that lives among branching Acropora and produces toxic mucus.
- Yellow Clown Goby Care GuideGobiodon okinawae is a tiny bright-yellow coral goby that perches among the branches of staghorn Acropora corals in the Western Pacific.
- Ambanoro Shrimp Goby Care GuideVanderhorstia ambanoro is an Indo-West Pacific prawn goby of soft sand and mud bottoms that lives with Alpheus shrimp in coastal bays and la
- Steinitz' Shrimp Goby Care GuideAmblyeleotris steinitzi is a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific prawn goby with brown-barred pale body that shares a burrow with alpheid shrimp.
- Flagtail Shrimp Goby Care GuideAmblyeleotris yanoi is a Western Pacific prawn goby with a patterned yellow caudal fin that partners with the red-banded shrimp Alpheus rand
- Wheeler's Shrimp Goby Care GuideAmblyeleotris wheeleri is a widespread Indo-Pacific prawn goby that lives commensally with alpheid shrimp in reef rubble.
- Randall's Shrimp Goby Care GuideAmblyeleotris randalli is a Western Pacific prawn goby noted for orange-striped body and a tall first dorsal fin bearing a black-and-white e
- Spotted Shrimp Goby Care GuideAmblyeleotris guttata is a Western Pacific prawn goby with orange-spotted whitish body that shares a sand burrow with alpheid shrimp.
- White-bellied Watchman Goby Care GuideCryptocentrus albidorsus is a small Western Pacific shrimp goby that shares a burrow with snapping shrimp on silty sand.
- Saddled Watchman Goby Care GuideCryptocentrus leucostictus is a Western Pacific marine shrimp goby that shares a burrow with symbiotic alpheid pistol shrimp.
- Yellownose Prawn-goby Care GuideStonogobiops xanthorhinica is a small western Pacific marine goby with a yellow snout that shares a burrow with pistol shrimp in a mutualist
- Black-spot Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) Care GuideLabroides pectoralis is an Indo-Pacific cleaner wrasse with a black spot at the pectoral-fin base; it feeds on ectoparasites and is demandin
- Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) Care GuideLabroides phthirophagus is a Hawaiian endemic cleaner wrasse; it feeds obligately on fish ectoparasites and is challenging to keep long term
- Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides bicolor) Care GuideLabroides bicolor is an Indo-Pacific cleaner wrasse that feeds on the ectoparasites of other fish; its specialized diet makes it difficult t
- White-Banded Possum Wrasse Care GuideWetmorella albofasciata is a small, secretive Indo-Pacific reef wrasse that lives in caves and crevices, reaching about 6 cm.
- Pygmy Possum Wrasse Care GuideWetmorella nigropinnata is a small, secretive Indo-Pacific reef wrasse that hides in caves and crevices, reaching about 8 cm.
- Hawaiian Saddle Wrasse Care GuideThalassoma duperrey is a reef wrasse endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, reaching about 28 cm.
- Yellow-Brown Wrasse Care GuideThalassoma lutescens is an Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with yellow females and blue-headed terminal males, up to 30 cm.
- Bluehead Wrasse Care GuideThalassoma bifasciatum is a Caribbean reef wrasse and protogynous hermaphrodite; terminal males show a blue head and green body.
- Lunare Wrasse Care GuideThalassoma lunare is a widespread Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with a yellow crescent tail, reaching up to 45 cm.
- Bandit Wrasse (Polylepion russelli) Care GuidePolylepion russelli is a deep-water wrasse of the family Labridae from the North Pacific, a carnivorous reef-associated species recorded at
- Harlequin Tuskfish Care GuideChoerodon fasciatus is a Western Pacific wrasse with orange-and-blue bars and prominent blue teeth, reaching about 30 cm.