Randalli Goby EXPERT (Amblyeleotris Randalli)

Also Known As: Orange Stripe Prawn Goby, Randall's Shrimp Goby

Compatibility and Behavior
The Randalli Goby (Amblyeleotris randalli) pairs bold striping with a real showpiece of a dorsal fin. A pale white to light pink body is crossed by roughly seven bold orange-to-gold vertical stripes, with an extra orange band running over the eyes and around the head, and the males put on a display: that oversized, sail-like dorsal fin flares to reveal a dramatic black spot ringed in orange during territorial or courtship moments. The slender, elongated body and big expressive eyes give it the classic sentinel look, and true to form, it's built to keep watch above a shared burrow. Like the other shrimp gobies it forms one of the hobby's most rewarding partnerships with a pistol shrimp (particularly the Red Banded Pistol Shrimp), the nearly blind shrimp digging and maintaining the burrow while the goby stands guard and signals danger with flicks of its tail. A shrimp isn't required, but keepers often find their goby turns noticeably bolder once paired. It's fully reef safe and won't touch corals or inverts, though it may squabble with other shrimp gobies or similar bottom dwellers over territory, so it's best to keep just one shrimp goby species per tank.

Aquarium Requirements
Substrate and a lid are the essentials. Give it a tank of at least 10 gallons with a sand bed of at least 2 to 3 inches, ideally mixed with fine rubble or coral gravel to support a stable burrow, especially if it pairs with a pistol shrimp. Because this goby spends much of its time hovering near its burrow rather than swimming out in the open, scattering small rubble and rock near the sand encourages it to stay visible through the day. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid is strongly recommended, as it's a capable jumper, especially when startled or first introduced. Gentle to moderate flow works best, directed away from the burrow area, since strong turbulence makes it hard for the goby and shrimp to keep a stable home. Feed mysis, enriched brine, and finely chopped seafood several times a day.

Specifications
Approximate Size: Sm/Md: 1–2", Lg: 2–2.5"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood
Origin: Western Pacific
Care Level: Expert
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Special Considerations: Needs a sand bed of at least 2–3 inches with fine rubble for burrowing; a capable jumper that needs a gap-free lid; forms a beneficial partnership with a pistol shrimp, but may squabble with other shrimp gobies, so keep just one shrimp goby species per tank