ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Neon Goby
Goby

Neon Goby

Elacatinus oceanops

A tiny black torpedo split by a brilliant electric-blue stripe — the Atlantic's answer to the cleaner wrasse, but hardy, captive-bred, and reef-safe. It sets up a cleaning station on the rock and services larger tankmates, picking off parasites and dead tissue, which makes it a genuinely functional community fish. Peaceful with everything except its own kind (keep one or a mated pair), and one of the best nano-reef beginner fish going. Buy aquacultured stock — it is abundant.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
2"
Min tank
10 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Caves
Keep one or a bonded pair.
Symbiosis · Cleans other fish.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Neon Goby gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Coral HawkfishCoral Hawkfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Fiji Blue Devil DamselFiji Blue Devil Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Falco HawkfishSmall gobies are named as victims of the Falco’s abuse; a 5 cm neon goby can be bullied or eaten.Arc-Eye HawkfishA 5 cm goby is small enough to be eaten or bullied by this aggressive perching predator.Marine BettaA 5 cm neon goby fits the Betta’s gape; small gobies are listed among fish that end up eaten by this ambush predator.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Bicolor AngelfishBicolor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Yellow TangYellow Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Kole TangKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Tomini TangTomini Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Keyhole AngelfishKeyhole Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Powder Brown TangPowder Brown Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Square AnthiasSquare Anthias (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.