Gobies
Rainford's goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
Also sold as Court jester goby
Not for beginners
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 7.6 cm in aquariums
- Minimum tank
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- With corals
- Reef safe
- Captive-bred
- Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
- IUCN status
- Least Concern
How do you care for the rainford's goby?
Peaceful.
Feeding
Omnivore: grazes filamentous algae and small crustaceans from rock.
Often fails to take prepared foods and slowly starves (widely reported by keepers; not stated by LiveAquaria).
Tank and special needs
Plan for at least 38 litres of water (the care sheet says 10 US gallons).
Established tank with live rock and sand (LiveAquaria).
Corals and invertebrates
None.
Which tankmates suit the rainford's goby?
Peaceful; avoid competitors for the same rock grazing.
Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.
More than one rainford's goby
Keep one rainford's goby: two of the same species usually fight.
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 rainford's goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the rainford's goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Six line wrasseBoth eat copepods from the rock; a tank under about 400 litres rarely grows enough for two.
- Leopard wrasseBoth eat copepods from the rock; a tank under about 400 litres rarely grows enough for two.
- Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the rainford's goby, especially if the bully is added first.
- Mandarin dragonetBoth eat copepods from the rock; a tank under about 400 litres rarely grows enough for two.
- Spotted mandarinBoth eat copepods from the rock; a tank under about 400 litres rarely grows enough for two.
Usually fine together (52)
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Percula clownfish
- Clark's anemonefish
- Tomato clownfish
- Neon goby
- Yellow clown goby
- Yellow watchman goby
- Orange spotted goby
- Hi-fin red banded goby
- Gold head sleeper 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
- Red head solon fairy wrasse
- Carpenter's flasher wrasse
- Melanurus 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
- Yellowhead jawfish
- Moorish idol
- Harlequin filefish
- Copperband butterflyfish
Invertebrates
Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.
Take care (2)
- 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.
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 rainford's 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
Weight loss in quarantine is the main risk.
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
Other minimum tank sizes we found:
- Grazes biofilm and filamentous algae, so a mature tank matters more than volume.
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
Orange spotted goby
Amblyeleotris guttata
- Care
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Tank from
- 38 litres
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Corals
- Reef safe with caution
Photo Sushi Girl1995, CC BY-SA 3.0