Yasha Goby (Stonogobiops yasha) Care Guide
A strikingly beautiful shrimp goby with a white body adorned with red-orange horizontal bars and an elongated first dorsal spine.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Stonogobiops yasha is a species in the family Gobiidae. A strikingly beautiful shrimp goby with a white body adorned with red-orange horizontal bars and an elongated first dorsal spine. Forms a fascinating symbiotic relationship with Alpheus randalli pistol shrimp — the shrimp maintains a shared burrow while the goby acts as a lookout. One of the most sought-after nano reef gobies.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Stonogobiops
- Scientific name: Stonogobiops yasha
- Other names: White-Rayed Shrimp Goby, Yasha Haze Goby
- Origin: Western Pacific, Japan
Habitat
Native to the western Pacific from southern Japan south to Indonesia and east to Fiji. Lives in obligate symbiosis with the alpheid pistol shrimp Alpheus randalli on sandy slopes at the base of coral reefs at depths of 5-40 m. First described in 2001.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Pistol Shrimp, Small Peaceful Fish, Firefish Goby, Small Wrasses
- Avoid with: Aggressive Fish, Large Predators, Other Shrimp Gobies
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: cave-spawner
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Yasha Goby Breeding Guide
Overview
Stonogobiops yasha is a small shrimp goby that has been successfully captive bred. The first metamorphosed juveniles were produced by Rising Tide Conservation, with work at Roger Williams University led by Joe Szczebak, Brad Bourque, and Dr. Andy Rhyne. In their first attempt, six of nine conditioned pairs spawned regularly and 38 thriving juveniles were raised.
Sexing
The species lives and breeds in male-female pairs, and pairs were established for the breeding program, so obtaining a compatible pair is the practical starting point. The species forms a symbiotic relationship with the pistol shrimp Alpheus randalli, in which the shrimp maintains the shared burrow while the goby acts as lookout.
Breeding Setup
In the breeding program, pairs laid their nests within synthetic caves. The role of the symbiotic A. randalli pistol shrimp in reproduction was specifically observed, so providing the shrimp partner and a defined burrow or cave structure reflects the documented setup. A range of environmental conditions was tested to best induce spawning.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Once conditioned, pairs spawned regularly, laying nests inside their synthetic caves. Six of the nine conditioned pairs in the program were regularly spawning, indicating that stable, well-conditioned pairs reproduce readily under the right environmental cues.
Egg & Fry Care
Larvae successfully settled and metamorphosed around 30-50 days post hatch; the first metamorphosed juveniles settled out at 35 to 50 days post hatch. This relatively long pelagic larval period must be maintained through to settlement, after which juveniles can be grown on.
Common Challenges
Despite years of attempts, breeding this species remained elusive until the Rising Tide work, underscoring that the multi-week larval period is the principal difficulty. Sustaining tiny larvae through 30-50 days before settlement requires careful conditions, which is why captive-bred specimens are valued as wild supply is limited.