Gobies
Orange spotted goby
Amblyeleotris guttata
Also sold as Spotted prawn goby
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8.9 cm in aquariums
- Minimum tank
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- With corals
- Reef safe with caution
- Captive-bred
- Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
- IUCN status
- Least Concern
How do you care for the orange spotted goby?
Peaceful.
Feeding
Carnivore.
Feed at least twice daily (LiveAquaria).
Tank and special needs
Plan for at least 38 litres of water (the care sheet says 10 US gallons).
Sand bed; tight lid, jumper.
Corals and invertebrates
Small delicate ornamental shrimp (LiveAquaria).
Which tankmates suit the orange spotted goby?
Pairs with pistol shrimp.
Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.
More than one orange spotted goby
Only as a mated pair, or two juveniles added together. A third orange spotted goby is usually driven out.
Other fish
Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.
Take care (7)
- Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the orange spotted goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Yellow watchman gobyBoth are prawn gobys that use the same burrows; give each its own area.
- Hi-fin red banded gobyBoth are prawn gobys that use the same burrows; give each its own area.
- Gold head sleeper gobyBoth sift the sand for food and compete for it. Both dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
- Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the orange spotted goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the orange spotted goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Yellowhead jawfishBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
Usually fine together (52)
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Percula clownfish
- Clark's anemonefish
- Tomato clownfish
- Neon goby
- Yellow clown goby
- Rainford's goby
- Lawnmower blenny
- Bicolor blenny
- Midas blenny
- Tailspot blenny
- Striped fang blenny
- Royal dottyback
- Orchid dottyback
- Magenta dottyback
- Neon dottyback
- Banggai cardinalfish
- Pyjama cardinalfish
- Green chromis
- Yellowtail blue damsel
- Blue damsel
- Azure damsel
- Yellow coris wrasse
- Six line wrasse
- Red head solon fairy wrasse
- Carpenter's flasher wrasse
- Melanurus wrasse
- Leopard wrasse
- Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
- Firefish
- Purple firefish
- Scissortail dartfish
- Lyretail anthias
- Bartlett's anthias
- Royal gramma
- Yellow assessor
- Yellow tang
- Regal blue tang
- Kole tang
- Scopas tang
- Coral beauty
- Flame angelfish
- Cherub angelfish
- Foxface rabbitfish
- Flame hawkfish
- Longnose hawkfish
- Falco hawkfish
- Mandarin dragonet
- Spotted mandarin
- Moorish idol
- Harlequin filefish
- Copperband butterflyfish
Invertebrates
Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.
Take care (6)
- Skunk cleaner shrimpOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
- Peppermint shrimpOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult peppermint shrimps are usually safe.
- Camel shrimpOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
- Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
- Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
- Harlequin shrimpOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult harlequin shrimps are usually safe.
Corals and anemones
Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.
Take care (1)
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)The carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) can catch and eat small fish such as the orange spotted goby.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Quarantine and health
Standard.
New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.
Captive-bred or wild?
Wild-caught.
Where sources disagree
| Topic | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum tank |
| 10 US gallons looks low for an 11 cm burrowing fish; plan for about 114 litres like the watchman goby. |
Other minimum tank sizes we found:
- 10 gal seems small for an 11 cm burrowing fish; 30 gal like the watchman is more realistic.
Sources
Last checked . How we check
Found a mistake? Tell us how to fix it.
Related fish
Neon goby
Elacatinus oceanops
Good first fish
- Care
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Tank from
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Corals
- Reef safe
Photo Jmk7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Yellow clown goby
Gobiodon okinawae
- Care
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- Tank from
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Corals
- Reef safe with caution
Photo Jenny, CC BY 2.0
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Good first fish
- Care
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Tank from
- 114 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Corals
- Reef safe
Photo Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hi-fin red banded goby
Stonogobiops nematodes
- Care
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Tank from
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Corals
- Reef safe
Photo Sammydee, CC BY-SA 3.0