FOTM - Feb 2008 - Yellow Clown Goby, Gobiodon okinawae

Camilsky · 01-13-2008, 09:53 AM

My Yellow Clown Goby aka Starvin' Marvin

My Yellow Clown Goby inspecting his leather coral

My Yellow Clown Goby having fun in leather coral

My Yellow Clown Goby "fighting" for brine shrimp

Family: Gobidae

Latin Name: Gobiodon okinawae

Common Name: Yellow Clown Goby

Sexual Dimorphism:
The members of Gobiodon sp. start life as females, and are bi-directional protogynous hermaphrodites. When paired up, one changes sex to form a breeding pair. In the case of two females present in one tank, the larger one undergoes sex change, female->male.

Reproduction:
Gobiodon sp. can be easily bred in captivity. The eggs are laid in circular bands around coral branches. The male will immediately fertilize them and guard until hatching, that takes place about five days later. After approx. 33, fry undergo metamorphosis and begin to settle. Coloration can be observed at about day 40.

Range in nature: Western Pacific from southern Japan to the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: Adults can grow to 2.0 - 2.5”

Minimum aquarium size: 10 gallons

Diet: Suggested foods include Cyclop-eeze, live brine shrimps fortified with phytoplankton to boost nutritional value, Sweetwaters Zooplankton, frozen or live mysis shrimp.

Ease of Care: 4 (5=easy, 1=difficult) My goby is definitely a slow eater.

Water Region in aquarium: Spend most of the time in branches of acropora or other corals. In my case , hosted by large leather coral.

Reef Aquarium compatibility: Reef compatible, due to small size good for nano reef tanks.

Habitat: These fish are not generally aggressive, though they can be aggressive towards their own kind. Their primary defence against predators is a poisonous, bitter mucus on their skin that makes them unpalatable. They are very funny with lots of personality!

References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_clown_goby
2. http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_Gobiodon_okinawae.php

baugherb · 01-13-2008, 09:54 AM

I was going to ask you about that cam (where you posted).... Awesome info.. Nice work.....

Camilsky · 01-13-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baugherb

I was going to ask you about that cam (where you posted).... Awesome info.. Nice work.....

Thanks, a lot! My source of information is rather limited in this case. So, you can find all of it in the 2 references I've cited. I wish I could find an extensive monograph about Gobiodon okinawae. If you stumble upon something like that please PM me or post it here!

Cheerio!