Neon Goby

Neon Goby

Elacatinus oceanops

Also known as: Neon Blue Goby, Sharknose Goby

🧂 Saltwater ✌️ Peaceful 🟢 Easy 🥩 Carnivore Reef Safe

A tiny black goby with brilliant electric-blue neon stripes running from snout to tail. Like the cleaner wrasse, it sets up cleaning stations and removes parasites from larger fish. Widely captive-bred.

Tank Size

10 gal
minimum (20+ preferred)

Temperature

74–82°F
23–28°C

pH Range

8.1–8.4
water acidity

Max Size

2"
5.1 cm

Lifespan

2–3 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Bottom
preferred zone

Care Notes

One of the easiest marine fish to keep. Captive-bred specimens are hardy and readily available. Can be kept in pairs. Excellent for nano tanks. Short-lived compared to many marine fish.

Feeding

Frozen mysis, baby brine shrimp, cyclops, and finely crushed marine pellets. Eager feeder that also cleans parasites from tankmates.

Compatible Tank Mates

Blue Green Chromis 3" Pink Skunk Clownfish 3.5" Skunk Clownfish 4" Orange Skunk Clownfish 4.5" Talbot's Damselfish 2.5" Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse 3" Melanurus Wrasse 5" Cleaner Wrasse 4" Yellow Coris Wrasse 5" Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse 3" Firefish Goby 3" Yellow Watchman Goby 4"

Use Caution With

Ocellaris Clownfish 3" True Percula Clownfish 3" Yellowtail Damselfish 2.5" Yellow Tang 8" Kole Tang 7" Clarkii Clownfish 5" Tomato Clownfish 5" Scopas Tang 8" Convict Tang 8" Azure Damselfish 2.5" Springer's Damselfish 2" Cinnamon Clownfish 5"

Incompatible With

Maroon Clownfish 6" Blue Devil Damselfish 3" Blue Tang 12" Powder Blue Tang 9" Naso Tang 18" Achilles Tang 10" Purple Tang 10" Three Stripe Damselfish 3" Domino Damselfish 5" Four Stripe Damselfish 3" Jewel Damselfish 6" Blonde Naso Tang 16"

Check Compatibility

Want to check if Neon Goby is compatible with a specific fish? Use our compatibility checker to build your complete tank.