Filament-fin Shrimp Goby Care Guide
Stonogobiops nematodes is a small Indo-Pacific marine goby that lives symbiotically with pistol shrimp, recognised by its long filamentous dorsal ray.
Overview
Stonogobiops nematodes is a small marine goby of the Indo-West Pacific, also known as the black-ray goby. It has a white body crossed by diagonal dark bars, a yellow head and a greatly elongated filamentous first dorsal ray that distinguishes it from related species. The fish is best known for its commensal partnership with pistol shrimp.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Stonogobiops
- Scientific name: Stonogobiops nematodes
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Indo-West Pacific, including the Seychelles, the Philippines and Bali, Indonesia. It is reef-associated, occurring over sandy or sand-rubble bottoms near reefs at depths of about 15-25 metres in tropical waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity / hardness: reef-typical (carbonate hardness 8-12)
- Substrate: sand for burrowing
- Lifespan: 4-8 years
Diet
The species is a carnivore. In the wild it feeds mainly on zooplankton (Wikipedia). In aquaria it accepts small meaty foods such as mysid and brine shrimp, and may take prepared flake and algae-based foods.
Compatibility
Stonogobiops nematodes is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish. It is reef-safe and pairs naturally with a pistol shrimp, with which it shares a burrow; the goby acts as a watchman with its keen eyesight while the shrimp maintains the burrow. It suits peaceful reef communities and should be kept away from aggressive predators.
Breeding
The species is an egg-layer. Captive breeding is considered difficult and is rarely accomplished, so most specimens in the trade are wild-collected.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018), per FishBase.