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Yellow Watchman Goby
Goby

Yellow Watchman Goby

Cryptocentrus cinctus

A stout, sunny-yellow (or drab grey) sand goby that is one of the best introductions to fish-shrimp symbiosis: it perches at the mouth of a burrow dug and maintained by a pistol shrimp, and flicks a warning to the near-blind shrimp when danger approaches. Peaceful with the community but territorial toward other watchman gobies, so keep one or a bonded pair. It needs an open sand bed to burrow in and a tight lid — it will jump.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.5"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Bottom, Sand bed
Keep one or a bonded pair.
Symbiosis · Pairs with a pistol shrimp.
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Tankmates

How Yellow 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 Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Wheeler's 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.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Porcupine PufferPorcupine Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.Lunare WrasseLunare Wrasse (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Spanish HogfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Watchman Goby.

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 Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Majestic AngelfishMajestic Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Watchman Goby and may harass it.