White-line Dwarfgoby (Eviota albolineata) Care Guide
Eviota albolineata is a small Pacific dwarfgoby of shallow lagoon and channel reefs, reaching about 3.6 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Eviota albolineata, the white-line dwarfgoby, was described by Jewett and Lachner in 1983. It is a small benthic goby reaching a maximum total length of about 3.6 cm. The species is restricted to the central Pacific and is reef-associated.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Eviota
- Scientific name: Eviota albolineata Jewett & Lachner, 1983
- Common name: White-line dwarfgoby
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species is restricted to the Society Islands, Line Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago. It occupies shallow lagoon and channel reefs, typically in water less than 3 m deep. Wikipedia notes that records reported from outside this range are likely misidentifications of the similar Eviota guttata.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 50 L (13 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 3.6 cm total length (FishBase)
- Lifespan: 3-6 years
Diet
FishBase reports a trophic level of about 3.1, consistent with a micro-carnivorous to omnivorous diet of small invertebrates. In aquaria the species takes small frozen and prepared foods.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling species. Because of its very small size it should be kept only with small, calm tankmates and away from larger predatory fishes.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020).
Eviota albolineata Breeding Guide
Overview
Eviota albolineata is a dwarfgoby of the family Gobiidae recorded from the Society Islands, Line Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago in the Pacific; many records elsewhere are considered misidentifications of the related Eviota guttata. Adults reach only about 19 to 26 mm in length. Like other members of the genus, it is a short-lived reef goby.
Sexing
No species-specific external sexing key has been published for Eviota albolineata. Sex determination across small Eviota gobies generally relies on examination of the genital papilla rather than colour, which is not practical in a display aquarium.
Breeding Setup
There is no published captive-breeding protocol for this species. Keeping it requires a mature reef microhabitat reflecting its natural shallow-reef range. Any reproduction effort would depend on a copepod-rich system to sustain both adults and any fry, but no documented method exists.
Common Challenges
The lack of reproductive records is the central obstacle. Combined with a very small adult size and the demersal egg-laying typical of dwarf gobies, locating eggs and rearing pelagic larvae through their planktonic phase would be a research-level undertaking with no established feeding regime.