Scissortail Goby (Pteroleotris evides)

Also Known As: Scissortail Dartfish

Compatibility and Behavior
The Scissortail Goby (Ptereleotris evides) earns its name at the back end: a deeply forked tail with a scissor-like split that opens and closes as the fish moves. The coloring is understated and elegant, a pale, almost white head fading into soft blue-gray and deepening to dark blue-black across the rear half and fins, and every so often it'll flash an iridescent blue eye and flare its dorsal and anal fins when something excites it. It's an active, graceful swimmer that likes to hover out in open water rather than hug the bottom. Fully reef safe, it can be trusted around corals and inverts without a second thought. It's a social fish by nature and tends to do well in a group, spending more time out in the open when it has company, though any conspecifics should go in at the same time to head off territorial squabbling. Add at least 3 Scissortails (the more the better) to increase chances of schooling. It mixes well with other peaceful community fish like firefish, gobies, and blennies, but housed with aggressive or boisterous tankmates it'll stress and hide.

Aquarium Requirements
The top priority, as with any dartfish, is a gap-free lid, since the Scissortail is a notorious jumper, especially when first introduced or startled. Get that locked down and the rest is easy. Give it a tank of at least 30 gallons with plenty of open swimming space, both horizontal and vertical, since it lives up in the water column. A sand bed of 2 to 3 inches lets it burrow when it feels threatened, and that should be paired with ample live rock offering caves, crevices, and a designated retreat hole. Varied rockwork throughout gives it a sense of security and multiple escape options, which matters because a stressed Scissortail may otherwise refuse food or try to jump. Offer small, frequent feedings of meaty foods like mysis, enriched brine, cyclops, and finely chopped seafood through the day, since this planktivore prefers to pick food out of the water column rather than off the bottom.

Specifications
Approximate Size: Sm/Md: 1.75–2.5", Lg: 2.5–3.5"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, cyclops, and finely chopped seafood
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Special Considerations: A notorious jumper that needs a gap-free, tight-fitting lid; appreciates a sand bed of 2–3 inches with rubble for burrowing; social and does well in a group, but conspecifics should be introduced together to avoid territorial disputes