ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Wheeler's Watchman Goby
Goby

Wheeler's Watchman Goby

Amblyeleotris wheeleri

A small, elegant shrimp goby — a white body crossed by broad orange-red bands and speckled with tiny blue spots — that shares a burrow with a pistol shrimp (commonly Alpheus randalli) and stands guard for its near-blind partner. It is peaceful and thoroughly reef- and invert-safe, happiest on a fine sand bed it can dive into. Small enough for a modest tank, but a committed jumper that needs a sealed lid.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.1"
Min tank
20 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Bottom, Sand bed
Keep one or a bonded pair.
Symbiosis · Pairs with a pistol shrimp.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Wheeler's Watchman 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 Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Coral HawkfishHawkfish perch on the bottom and can turn predatory toward small gobies; an aggressive coral hawkfish may harass or eat a small shrimp-goby sharing the substrate.Yellow Watchman GobyCryptocentrus vs Amblyeleotris shrimp-gobies both defend a burrow entrance, so two competing burrowers in one tank squabble over territory and the shared shrimp host.Randall's Shrimp GobyWheeler's Watchman Goby and Randall's Shrimp Goby are the same genus (Amblyeleotris) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Pink Spotted Watchman GobyTwo burrowing shrimp-gobies of different genera (Cryptocentrus vs Amblyeleotris) claim and defend the same bottom burrow territory, leading to chronic squabbling unless the tank is large with well-separated substrate zones.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Marine BettaA small shrimp-goby can be swallowed by a marine betta at night; risk is real but somewhat lower since the goby shelters in a burrow.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Wheeler's Watchman Goby.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Tangaroa Shrimp GobyTwo small burrow-dwelling shrimp-gobies of different genera (Amblyeleotris vs Ctenogobiops) may compete for the same burrow/substrate; usually manageable in a larger sandbed but can bicker.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Threadfin ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Majestic AngelfishMajestic Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Wheeler's Watchman Goby and may harass it.