Yellow Rose Goby (Stonogobiops Nematodes)

Also Known As: Hi Fin Red Banded Goby, Yellowrose Shrimp Goby

Compatibility and Behavior
The Yellow Rose Goby (Stonogobiops nematodes) proves you don't need size to make an entrance. A silver-white body carries bold dark red-brown diagonal bands and a bright yellow face, topped by an elongated, black-trimmed dorsal fin it flies like a flagpole at the burrow entrance. In a nano reef, that tall dorsal ray and banded body give it a presence well beyond its tiny size. Just remember, nano fish may get lost in bigger tanks, so keep it to a small system. It's fully reef safe and peaceful, which makes it a natural fit for a small community tank built around delicate corals and inverts. Like its shrimp goby relatives, it spends most of its time hovering just above the sand or perched at the mouth of its burrow, darting out for food and retreating when startled, and it forms the classic symbiotic partnership with a pistol shrimp (often the tiny Alpheus randalli), the shrimp digging and maintaining the tunnel while the goby stands guard and signals danger with quick tail flicks. It may squabble with its own kind in tight quarters, so it's typically kept just one shrimp goby to a tank.

Aquarium Requirements
Its tiny size makes this a natural nano fish, comfortable in a tank starting around 10 to 20 gallons. As with all the shrimp gobies, substrate and a lid lead the list: give it a fine sand bed at least 2 inches deep so both the goby and its shrimp partner can dig and maintain burrows, with plenty of live rock and small rubble around the sand to anchor the burrow beneath stable structures and provide hiding options. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid is essential, since shrimp gobies are known jumpers, especially when newly introduced or startled. Because it's such a tiny, shy bottom-dweller, a calm environment with peaceful tankmates matters, as boisterous or aggressive fish can intimidate it and keep it from feeding confidently. Moderate to gentle flow suits it best, and feeding should be targeted near the sand or burrow entrance so it can grab food without venturing far. Offer mysis, enriched brine, finely chopped marine meats, and quality frozen carnivore preparations.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 0.5–1"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped marine meats, and quality frozen carnivore preparations
Origin: Western Pacific
Care Level: Easy to moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Special Considerations: Needs a fine sand bed at least 2 inches deep for burrowing; a known jumper that needs a gap-free lid; a tiny, shy fish best kept with calm tankmates so it feeds confidently; forms a beneficial partnership with a pistol shrimp