Wide-Barred Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris latifasciata).

Also Known As: Leopard Goby, Broadband Goby

Compatibility and Behavior
The Wide-Barred Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris latifasciata) is one of the classic shrimp gobies, and in the wild it strikes up a symbiotic partnership with a snapping (pistol) shrimp: the nearly blind shrimp digs and maintains a shared burrow, while the sharp-eyed goby stands sentinel at the entrance, signaling danger so both can bolt for cover. While a Pistol Shrimp mate is not required for survival, watching that partnership play out in a home tank is genuinely one of the more rewarding things in the hobby. If looking to experience that in your tank, our recommended pistol shrimp pairing is the Tiger Pistol Shrimp.

The Wide-Barred Shrimp Goby is a looker in its own right, with broad dark reddish-brown bars over a pale cream body, bluish-white spots and streaks across the head, and pale-edged red spots on the dorsal fins, carried on an elongated body with high-set eyes made for keeping watch. It's very peaceful and reef safe, and it does best with calm tankmates, since pushy or territorial fish can bully it off its burrow and spoil the whole dynamic. It doesn't strictly need a shrimp partner to survive, but paired with a compatible pistol shrimp it's noticeably bolder, more active, and more visible.

Aquarium Requirements
As with the jawfish and sand-diving gobies, substrate is the foundation here. This goby needs a deep, mixed sand bed of at least a few inches, ideally with coral rubble or shell fragments worked in to help stabilize the burrow it and its shrimp will excavate. A tank of at least 30 gallons comfortably supports both the goby and a pistol shrimp in a stable, established system, and ample live rock arranged with caves and crevices near the sand gives them a real sense of security. A tight-fitting lid or fine mesh top is essential, since this is a capable jumper when startled. Feed several times a day with a variety of meaty foods like mysis, brine, and finely chopped seafood to keep it active and out in the open near its burrow.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 2–3"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for a single specimen with a pistol shrimp partner, with more space needed for additional pairs
Special Considerations: Requires a deep, mixed sand bed of at least a few inches with rubble or shell fragments for burrowing; a capable jumper that needs a tight-fitting lid; forms a beneficial symbiosis with a pistol shrimp and is bolder and more visible when paired with one