Neon Goby

The colorful neon goby is one of the most popular saltwater aquarium fish. It certainly earns its keep. Often called “cleaner fish,” neon gobies dine on the external parasites carried by larger fish, which might otherwise eat the goby. In an aquarium, where there are not enough parasites to sustain them, their diet should include frozen or live foods.

A small, slim fish, neon gobies have a dark-colored body and  iridescent stripes of varying colors — including blue and gold — along the top of their bodies.  They are generally about 1.5 inches long. Like all gobies, their dorsal fin is split in two with the front dorsal fin rounded and the posterior dorsal fin flat.

A tropical fish, they can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, where they dwell among rocks. Their size makes them suitable inhabitants for small reef tanks. If they are in larger aquariums they will need plenty of places to hide, especially if the tank contains predatory fish. It is advisable to mix them with peaceful tank mates.

Neon gobies are territorial and may occasionally chase one another around in the tank. Generally, however, they are not aggressive. They will often pair up and breed in captivity, although their fry may be eaten by other fish. The average lifespan for a neon goby is around 1.5 years.

One variety of the neon goby is commonly referred to as the gold neon goby. Other popular gobies include:

• Engineer goby
• Shrimp goby
• Watchman goby