How to Care for a Neon Goby

Native to the Gulf of Mexico, neon gobies provide a valuable service to coral reef communities; they earn their meals by cleaning dead parasites and dead tissue off of other fish. They are easy to care for, and they help keep the aquarium community clean and parasite-free. The neon goby grows to about 2 inches in length, and it has a black back, a white belly and bright blue stripes along each side of its body.

Things You'll Need

  • 10+ gallon aquarium
  • Substrate
  • Aquarium water conditioner
  • Marine salt
  • Hydrometer
  • pH kit
  • Thermometer
  • Living rocks
  • Coral
  • Meat-based fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare the aquarium. Gobies prefer a 10 gallon aquarium, at least. Add clean bottom substrate, which is a combination of argonite, sand and gravel purchased from an aquarium store. Fill the aquarium with water, but leave enough space to add rocks, coral and fish.

    • 2

      Create ideal aquarium conditions. Adjust the pH to between 8.1 and 8.4 with the water conditioner and pH kit, the salinity to between 1.019 and 1.025 with marine salt and hydrometer, and ensure the water temperature is between 75 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Check for a stable aquarium environment for several days before adding fish. Measure pH, salinity and temperature. Take note of fluctuations and ensure that the values do not drop below or climb above the ideal ranges.

    • 4
      Gobies need coral and rocks to escape from predators.

      Provide habitat. Add living rocks and coral so the goby has a place to hide and to set up a cleaning station.

    • 5

      Give the goby some companions. Gobies get along well with most saltwater aquarium species, except large predator fish.

    • 6

      Feed daily. Gobies will get some nourishment from cleaning the other fish in the aquarium, but this will not be enough. Supplement with a combination of meat-based pelleted fish food, live or frozen brine or mysid shrimp, frozen fish eggs and chopped seafood.

    • 7

      Freshen the water weekly. Drain 10 to 15 percent of the aquarium water with a hose and refill with fresh water pre-adjusted for pH and salinity.