Ambanoro Shrimp Goby Care Guide
Vanderhorstia ambanoro is an Indo-West Pacific prawn goby of soft sand and mud bottoms that lives with Alpheus shrimp in coastal bays and lagoons.
Overview
Vanderhorstia ambanoro, the Ambanoro Shrimp Goby, is a marine prawn goby of the Indo-West Pacific. FishBase notes males display blue stripes along the margin of the ventral fin. Like other prawn gobies it lives with grey or brown Alpheus shrimp in a shared burrow. It was described by Fourmanoir in 1957, originally as Cryptocentrus ambanoro.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Vanderhorstia
- Scientific name: Vanderhorstia ambanoro
Habitat
FishBase and Wikipedia record the species from East Africa to Samoa, north to the Yaeyama and Amami Islands. It occurs in coastal bays and lagoons on sand or mud bottoms at depths of 1 to 30 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: fine sand or mud for burrowing
- Lifespan: 4-8 years
Diet
A carnivore. In the aquarium it accepts meaty marine foods such as mysis and enriched brine shrimp, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
A peaceful bottom-dwelling species that stays near its burrow. It pairs with pistol shrimp and suits calm tankmates such as clownfish, cardinalfish and tangs; aggressive predators and lionfish should be avoided.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe. It does not harm corals and works the sand bed; provide a fine sand area so it can dig the burrow it shares with a shrimp.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 11 March 2015).