SeafanEmergencies

Gobies

Yellow clown goby

Gobiodon okinawae

Also sold as Okinawa goby

Yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
Photo: Jenny, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Care level
Beginner
Adult size
3.8 cm in aquariums
Minimum tank
38 litres
Temperament
Peaceful
With corals
Reef safe with caution
Captive-bred
Occasionally captive-bred
IUCN status
Least Concern
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How do you care for the yellow clown goby?

Peaceful; may fight its own kind in small tanks.

Feeding

Carnivore: small frozen foods.

Small mouth; offer fine foods.

Tank and special needs

Plan for at least 38 litres of water (the care sheet says 10 US gallons).

Appreciates branching coral to perch in.

Corals and invertebrates

May nip small-polyp stony coral (SPS) polyps; spawning on Acropora can kill tissue where eggs are laid (LiveAquaria).

Which tankmates suit the yellow clown goby?

Keep singly or as a pair; perches in branching coral.

Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.

More than one yellow clown goby

Only as a mated pair, or two juveniles added together. A third yellow clown 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.

Avoid together (5)

  • Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the yellow clown goby, which is small enough to be driven into hiding or killed.
  • Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the yellow clown goby, which is small enough to be driven into hiding or killed.
  • Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the yellow clown goby, which is small enough to be driven into hiding or killed.
  • Flame hawkfishFlame hawkfish can swallow a fish as small as the yellow clown goby.
  • Longnose hawkfishLongnose hawkfish can swallow a fish as small as the yellow clown goby.

Take care (3)

  • Bicolor blennyBicolor blennies may nip small gobies and dartfish in small tanks.
  • Midas blennyMidas blennies are known to nip firefish and small gobies.
  • Falco hawkfishFalco hawkfish may attack or eat small bottom-dwelling fish like the yellow clown goby.
Usually fine together (51)

Invertebrates

Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

Take care (4)

  • Arrow crabThe arrow crab can catch small fish like the yellow clown goby.
  • 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.
  • Green brittle starThe green brittle star can catch small fish like the yellow clown goby.

Corals and anemones

Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

Take care (10)

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

Slime coat is reported to be toxic, which deters predators.

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?

Mostly wild-caught; captive-bred Gobiodon occasionally sold.

What does it cost in the UK?

about £18. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day. Label assumed to be this species.

Sources

  1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats, coral caution.
  2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
  3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

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