• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Captive Bred Fish / Gobies / 4 Gobies For Beginners

4 Gobies For Beginners

by Kali Nunez

There are hundreds of different goby species, and they all require all kinds of diets and housing. This list names the top four gobies for beginners that I usually recommend for people just starting out in the hobby.

When adding any goby to your aquarium, it is important to make sure that you can cater to their individual needs in your tank. Most gobies really appreciate having a significant amount of rocks in the tank for them to take cover in along with live sand that they can move around. They can be pretty shy and hide out when first added so there is no need to panic if you don’t see your new goby much during the first few days. Most of the time, they are figuring out the layout of the tank and choosing where their territory is going to be. Once they become comfortable, they can have some of the brightest personalities in your tank.

Diamond gobies

The first goby I will be talking about is the diamond goby (Valenciennea puellaris). These guys reach up to 6 inches and a tank of at least 30 gallons. Diamond gobies spend their time sifting through the aquarium sand, cleaning it in the process. They are one of the best sand sifters and I usually recommend anyone with a tank to have one. They have a mild temperament and get along with any other non-aggressive saltwater fish. The only exception is that they usually can be pretty territorial towards other sand sifting gobies unless you have a pair. They are protogynous fish which means that they can switch between male and female. 

The best way to encourage diamond gobies to pair up is to buy one much smaller than the other. This makes the bigger one become the dominant one in the pair. They require a mainly carnivorous diet so feeding mysis or brine shrimp is acceptable. They are not particularly picky eaters and are easily trained to accept flakes or pellets.

War paint clown gobies

The war paint clown goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus) has one of the biggest personalities I’ve seen in any saltwater fish. They can reach a maximum length of 2 inches so they are perfect for nano reef tanks. These gobies spend their days darting throughout your rock structure and hiding within coral branches. Clown gobies usually have a favorite spot in your aquarium that you can always see them perching on. Once they get to know the person feeding them, they can get comfortable enough to swim and perch onto your hand when it is placed into the aquarium. They are very curious and love exploring new things in the tank. 

They are not picky eaters and thrive on a mainly carnivore diet. It is easy to train them on flakes and pellets. Even with their small size, they have no problem competing with the larger fish for food. They are swift and continuously dart up to grab food and go right back to their spot in the rocks until the feeding is over.

Firefishes 

This next goby doesn’t have the traditional look of what you would consider a goby. However, they can offer a lot of color to your aquarium. The firefish goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) has a yellow face that fades from white to red along their body and a dramatic ray on the forward dorsal fin. They can be very shy if they are placed by themselves so it is best to purchase them in groups. Firefish gobies are very peaceful additions to any aquarium and can be one of the most timid fish when first added to the aquarium. They feel safe in numbers and display a lot of confidence when placed in groups. You will find them slowly drifting around the middle column of the aquarium giving a serene look to your tank. 

This species thrives on a carnivore diet and is easily trained on flakes and pellets. In smaller aquariums, these gobies can show a slight bit of territorial aggression towards other gobies so it is important to make sure you have an adequate amount of space for all of the fish in your aquarium to be comfortable. They max out at 3 inches and require a minimum aquarium size of 20 gallons.

Cleaner gobies

The last fish on this list is also perfect for a nano aquarium. The neon cleaner goby (Elacatinus oceanops) maxes out at 2 inches and offers a beautiful and vibrant coloration. They have black bodies with neon blue stripes going along their entire body. 

Although they are tiny, most large fish tend to leave them alone due to their job in the aquarium. Cleaner gobies actually clean all of the fish in your aquarium and rid them of parasites. You will see them dart around the tank and even follow some of your fish around offering a cleaning. It is said that the neon blue stripe on the sides of their bodies is a signal to the other fish that they are cleaners which will deter them from being eaten. They usually stay within their territory in the rock structure in the aquarium but will go out and explore occasionally. 

Cleaner gobies accept most carnivore fish foods and are easily trained on pellets and flakes. I would recommend a minimum of a 10 gallon aquarium for neon cleaner gobies with lots of places for them to hide out in. They can be territorial towards other gobies in smaller aquariums so it is good to ensure that you have significant hiding space for each fish in your tank to prevent fighting. Another great thing about these gobies is that most of them are bred in captivity so you won’t have to stress about getting them to eat or them coming in with disease!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

Are you in the research and comparison stage of choosing a new system? Has your reef outgrown it's current home? If you’re just in the market to for a

Read More about CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Reef fish, whether they are predators or grazers, play a huge part in maintaining the balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs that are healthy

Read More about A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Calcium Supplementation

Stony corals can use elements in the water to build their skeletons. It is a fantastic process that develops exciting structures. However, in an aquarium,

Read More about Calcium Supplementation

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";