Threadfin Reefgoby (Priolepis nuchifasciata) Care Guide
Priolepis nuchifasciata is a small cryptic Western Pacific reefgoby that lives in small caves, reaching about 4 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Priolepis nuchifasciata was originally described by Günther in 1873. FishBase lists it under the common names orange reef-goby and threadfin reefgoby. It is a small, cryptic goby reaching a maximum total length of about 4 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Priolepis
- Scientific name: Priolepis nuchifasciata (Günther, 1873)
- Common names: Orange reef-goby, threadfin reefgoby
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species occurs in the Western Pacific across Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and the Gulf of Thailand, with questionable records from Oman and Vietnam. It inhabits rocky estuary reefs and small caves at depths of 5-30 m, where it is cryptic and usually found in pairs in marine to brackish conditions.
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 4 cm total length (FishBase)
- Lifespan: 3-6 years
Diet
FishBase reports a trophic level of about 3.1, consistent with a carnivorous diet of small invertebrates. In aquaria it requires small frozen and prepared foods and plenty of rockwork with caves and overhangs.
Compatibility
Priolepis nuchifasciata is a peaceful, secretive, cave-dwelling species. Because it spends much of its time hidden and is small, it suits calm tankmates and should not be kept with larger predators.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2023).
Priolepis nuchifasciata Breeding Guide
Overview
Priolepis nuchifasciata, the orange reefgoby, is a small goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 4.0 cm total length. It is a marine and brackish, reef-associated, cryptic species found in rocky estuary reefs and small caves at depths of 5 to 30 m, usually in pairs. Its range spans the western Pacific from Australia and New Guinea through Indonesia and the Philippines to Hong Kong, west to the Gulf of Thailand.
Sexing
No verified external sexing characters are documented for this species. The fact that it is usually encountered in pairs in the wild suggests a degree of pair fidelity, but published sources do not describe how to distinguish the sexes in the aquarium.
Breeding Setup
No captive-breeding protocol is published. The natural preference for small caves and overhangs implies that a mature reef tank offering numerous shaded crevices and a pair already formed in the wild would provide the best starting conditions. As Priolepis species cling to the undersides of rock overhangs, breeding behaviour would likely occur in hidden cave ceilings.
Common Challenges
The species' cryptic, cave-bound habits make observation of spawning nearly impossible without disturbing the tank. As a small goby it is expected to be a demersal egg-layer that deposits eggs on hidden hard surfaces, so detecting eggs and rearing any planktonic larvae through their small-prey phase would be the principal obstacles.