Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
General Description: The Hector’s Goby has a distribution across the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific. A small fish that packs a punch with personality, the Hector’s goby has an elongated dark olive-colored body with bright gold horizontal stripes. The Hector’s goby may be one of the most timid fish in the marine hobby, making them a great candidate for smaller aquariums and community reef tanks. They’re best kept singly unless the aquarium is large enough to provide space and hiding spots for multiple individuals. An adult Hector’s goby can reach a size of approximately 3″. Note: All of our Hector’s gobies are sourced from more sustainable locations.
Diet Requirements: In the wild Hector’s gobies are primarily omnivores, feeding on small organisms suspended in the water column and filamentous algae. A diet largely consisting of high quality, vitamin enriched frozen preparations is absolutely necessary to maintain optimal health, coloration, and immune function. Such foods can include, but are not limited to, brine shrimp, calanus, cyclopeeze and rotifers. Frozen food mixes that include algae such as Spirulina and Chlorella are desired. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements. Multiple, small feedings per day rather than one large feeding will also create more of a natural environment for the Hector’s goby as it would feed in the wild. Hector’s gobies may accept high quality flake and micro-pellet foods.
Care Requirements: A minimum 15 to 20 gallon aquarium is ideal to house a Hector’s goby. A tight fitting lid is recommended because this goby could be spooked easily until it settles in, and this prevents it from jumping out of the aquarium by accident. This species is sensitive to nitrite and ammonia, so it should only be introduced into a biologically mature aquarium. Hector’s gobies enjoy a variety of rock work and crevices to take refuge in order to feel secure. They often have a desginated “hole” in which they quickly duct to when felt threatened. Do not house Hector’s gobies with overly aggressive and pugnacious tank mates. A Hector’s goby would feel most at home in a reef aquarium and, they will not harm any invertebrate or coral. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.
Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/4″ to 2″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
