Sunspot Goby

Sunspot Goby

The Sunspot Goby (Amblyeleotris guttata) — also known as the spotted prawn or shrimp goby — is a charming, pale-bodied reef fish scattered with bright orange spots. Its real appeal, though, is its behaviour: like other shrimp gobies, it lives in a remarkable symbiosis with a burrowing pistol (alpheid) shrimp, sharing a sandy burrow in one of the aquarium hobby's most fascinating natural partnerships.

Peaceful, reef-safe and endlessly watchable, it is an excellent fish for a calm reef with a sand bed — especially for keepers who want to observe the goby-and-shrimp relationship up close.

Natural Habitat & Origin

Amblyeleotris guttata is native to the Western Pacific, from the Philippines to Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Australia. It lives over sandy and rubble substrates on reefs, sharing a burrow with a pistol shrimp: the near-blind shrimp excavates and maintains the burrow, while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard at the entrance and signals danger, sending both diving for cover.

Reproducing this in the aquarium means an open sand bed deep enough to burrow in, some rubble for burrow stability, and ideally a partner pistol shrimp.

Care Requirements

Keep it in stable marine conditions: salinity around 1.024–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, and a temperature of about 24–26°C (75–79°F). Reaching around 11 cm (4.3 inches), it suits a tank of around 75 litres (20 US gallons) or more with a sand bed and secure rockwork. A tight lid is recommended, as shrimp gobies will jump when startled.

The substrate is key: provide a few centimetres of sand and stable rock so the burrow does not collapse, and the goby (with or without a shrimp) will feel secure.

Diet & Feeding

The Sunspot Goby is a carnivore, feeding on small crustaceans and zooplankton near its burrow. It readily takes aquarium foods: offer frequent small meals of frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood and quality sinking marine pellets. Feed near the burrow entrance where the goby tends to hold station, and feed often enough to keep it in good condition.

Behavior & Temperament

This is a peaceful, somewhat shy fish that spends much of its time perched at its burrow, retreating inside when alarmed. It is no threat to tankmates and is happiest with a pistol shrimp partner, though it can be kept without one. It can be kept singly or as a pair; the partnership with the shrimp is the highlight of keeping the species.

Tank Mates

Pair it with peaceful reef fish — clownfish, firefish, smaller wrasses, cardinalfish and similar — and avoid aggressive species that will keep it hidden and off its food. It is fully reef-safe with corals and ornamental invertebrates. If you wish to see the symbiosis, add a compatible pistol shrimp such as an Alpheus species and let the pair find each other.

Breeding

Shrimp gobies such as A. guttata form pairs and have spawned in aquaria, depositing eggs within the burrow, but rearing the planktonic larvae is difficult and uncommon in the home aquarium. Trade specimens are wild-collected.

Common Health Issues

The Sunspot Goby is reasonably hardy, with jumping and underfeeding the main practical risks — address both with a secure lid and regular targeted feeding near the burrow. Like all marine fish it can be affected by marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and marine velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) under stress, so quarantine new arrivals and keep water quality stable. Provide a sand bed, stable rockwork and ideally a pistol-shrimp partner, and this engaging little goby will thrive.