Yasha Goby EXPERT (Stonogobiops Yasha)

Also Known As: Yasha Shrimp Goby, White Ray Shrimp Goby

Compatibility and Behavior
The Yasha Goby (Stonogobiops yasha) is a striking nano fish that packs a lot of visual punch into a tiny sized body. A bright white body is wrapped in deep red-orange horizontal stripes running head to tail, topped with a long, elegant first dorsal spine and vivid reddish-orange eyes, and the translucent fins carry subtle red and yellow speckling that give it an almost jewel-like quality as it hovers at its burrow. It's completely reef safe and peaceful, which makes it a prime candidate for nano reefs and mixed community tanks. As with the other shrimp gobies, the real draw is the partnership: it teams up most reliably with the similarly tiny Alpheus randalli (Red Banded Pistol Shrimp), the nearly blind pistol shrimp digging and maintaining the shared burrow while the goby stands sentinel at the entrance. It can be shy and reclusive when first introduced, and it may act aggressively toward other shrimp gobies or similar bottom dwellers competing for burrow space, so it's typically kept just one shrimp goby to a tank.

Aquarium Requirements
Its tiny size makes the Yasha a natural nano fish, happy in a well-established tank starting around 10 to 20 gallons. Be warned that it may get lost in bigger systems. As with all the shrimp gobies, substrate and a lid come first: give it a fine sand bed at least 2 inches deep with scattered rubble for burrow construction. Because it spends much of its time at or just above the burrow entrance rather than roaming, quiet, sheltered patches of sand near rock and coral are key to helping it feel secure. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid is mandatory, since Yasha Gobies are extremely prone to jumping when startled or during early acclimation. Gentle to moderate flow is ideal, and avoid strong, direct currents over the sand that would collapse burrow entrances or make hovering uncomfortable. Feed frozen mysis, brine, finely chopped seafood, and quality micro pellets near the burrow entrance.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 0.75–1.5"
Diet: Carnivore; frozen mysis and brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and quality micro pellets offered near the burrow entrance
Origin: Western and Central Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Special Considerations: Needs a fine sand bed at least 2 inches deep with rubble for burrowing; especially jump-prone, so a gap-free lid is mandatory;  forms a beneficial partnership with a pistol shrimp. Nano fish that will get lost in larger tanks.