Elacatinus
Encyclopedia
Elacatinus is a genus of marine gobies
, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, E. oceanops, is technically the "neon goby," because of their extremely similar appearance other members of the genus are generally labeled neon gobies as well.
-shaped fish. Although sizes vary slightly by species, they are generally about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. They have dark bodies with iridescent stripes (the color of which varies by species) running from the tip of the nose to the base of the caudal fin. Like all gobies, their dorsal fin is split in two, the anterior dorsal fin
being rounded like that of a clownfish
and the posterior dorsal fin being relatively flat. The anal fin lines up with the posterior dorsal fin and is of similar shape. The pectoral fins are nearly circular, and, like all other fins, transparent.
, from Texas
to Belize
, where they live primarily in the rocks. They are well-documented cleaner fish, setting up stations where often much larger fish (sometimes even fish who would normally eat the gobies) come to have the gobies eat their small external parasites. This is an excellent example of mutualism
– the cleaned fish are healthier and the gobies have not only an excellent food source but also relative protection from potential predators.
Several species of neon goby are readily available because of successful captive breeding programs, although scientific names are not always given. Generally, if the specimen has a blue stripe, it can be identified as E. oceanops, and if the stripe is half-blue half-gold, as E. evelynae. Various species are offered as "Gold Neon Gobies".
Neon gobies are not difficult to keep, and accept a wide variety of water parameters. Specific gravity is not critical, so long as it remains steady. As with all marine aquarium fish, they are sensitive to even trace amounts of ammonia
or nitrite
in an aquarium. Small amounts of nitrate are acceptable, but if over the long term these amounts increase this can cause problems. Neon gobies are tolerant of a broad range of temperatures, but they are tropical so a heater may be necessary to maintain a temperature of at least 25°C (78°F) year round. Other parameters, such as alkalinity
only become a problem if they are extreme.
Because of their small size, neon gobies are excellent Nano Reef inhabitants, and can live in tanks as small as five gallons, but a ten gallon or larger tank is more appropriate for best health (and ease of care). In larger tanks they can be kept in groups. Neon gobies are suitable for all types of marine aquariums, with the exception of those which contain large predatory fish or invertebrates which might attempt to eat the gobies. They need plenty of hiding places, and they make excellent reef inhabitants. They are not picky eaters, and will accept any and all frozen or live foods. They can also be easily trained to take flake or pellet foods, but a variety of frozen, freeze dried, and live foods to supplement a prepared staple is the best feeding routine. They are sometimes shy eaters and may be out-competed for food by more boisterous and aggressive feeders.
If kept in pristine conditions and fed well neon gobies will readily spawn in home aquaria. A species or breeding tank is required, as the fry are small and will be eaten by most other fish. The gobies are sexually dimorphic, but the difference is not easy to ascertain so they are normally kept in large groups to ensure a balance of sexes. They will lay their eggs on any hard surface along the bottom, and the fry, which feed on small rotifers or other microscopic organisms, are fully developed within a month. The average lifespan for a neon goby is approximately a year to a year and a half.
Goby
The gobies form the family Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm in length...
, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, E. oceanops, is technically the "neon goby," because of their extremely similar appearance other members of the genus are generally labeled neon gobies as well.
Description
Neon gobies are very small, torpedoTorpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
-shaped fish. Although sizes vary slightly by species, they are generally about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. They have dark bodies with iridescent stripes (the color of which varies by species) running from the tip of the nose to the base of the caudal fin. Like all gobies, their dorsal fin is split in two, the anterior dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
being rounded like that of a clownfish
Clownfish
Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Twenty-eight species are recognized, one in the genus Premnas, while the remaining are in the genus Amphiprion. In the wild they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones...
and the posterior dorsal fin being relatively flat. The anal fin lines up with the posterior dorsal fin and is of similar shape. The pectoral fins are nearly circular, and, like all other fins, transparent.
Ecology
Neon gobies are native to the tropical reefs of the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, where they live primarily in the rocks. They are well-documented cleaner fish, setting up stations where often much larger fish (sometimes even fish who would normally eat the gobies) come to have the gobies eat their small external parasites. This is an excellent example of mutualism
Mutualism
Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species biologically interact in a relationship in which each individual derives a fitness benefit . Similar interactions within a species are known as co-operation...
– the cleaned fish are healthier and the gobies have not only an excellent food source but also relative protection from potential predators.
In the aquarium
Members of the genus Elacatinus, particularly E. oceanops, are among the most popular marine aquarium inhabitants.Several species of neon goby are readily available because of successful captive breeding programs, although scientific names are not always given. Generally, if the specimen has a blue stripe, it can be identified as E. oceanops, and if the stripe is half-blue half-gold, as E. evelynae. Various species are offered as "Gold Neon Gobies".
Neon gobies are not difficult to keep, and accept a wide variety of water parameters. Specific gravity is not critical, so long as it remains steady. As with all marine aquarium fish, they are sensitive to even trace amounts of ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
or nitrite
Nitrite
The nitrite ion has the chemical formula NO2−. The anion is symmetric with equal N-O bond lengths and a O-N-O bond angle of ca. 120°. On protonation the unstable weak acid nitrous acid is produced. Nitrite can be oxidised or reduced, with product somewhat dependent on the oxidizing/reducing agent...
in an aquarium. Small amounts of nitrate are acceptable, but if over the long term these amounts increase this can cause problems. Neon gobies are tolerant of a broad range of temperatures, but they are tropical so a heater may be necessary to maintain a temperature of at least 25°C (78°F) year round. Other parameters, such as alkalinity
Alkalinity
Alkalinity or AT measures the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. The alkalinity is equal to the stoichiometric sum of the bases in solution...
only become a problem if they are extreme.
Because of their small size, neon gobies are excellent Nano Reef inhabitants, and can live in tanks as small as five gallons, but a ten gallon or larger tank is more appropriate for best health (and ease of care). In larger tanks they can be kept in groups. Neon gobies are suitable for all types of marine aquariums, with the exception of those which contain large predatory fish or invertebrates which might attempt to eat the gobies. They need plenty of hiding places, and they make excellent reef inhabitants. They are not picky eaters, and will accept any and all frozen or live foods. They can also be easily trained to take flake or pellet foods, but a variety of frozen, freeze dried, and live foods to supplement a prepared staple is the best feeding routine. They are sometimes shy eaters and may be out-competed for food by more boisterous and aggressive feeders.
If kept in pristine conditions and fed well neon gobies will readily spawn in home aquaria. A species or breeding tank is required, as the fry are small and will be eaten by most other fish. The gobies are sexually dimorphic, but the difference is not easy to ascertain so they are normally kept in large groups to ensure a balance of sexes. They will lay their eggs on any hard surface along the bottom, and the fry, which feed on small rotifers or other microscopic organisms, are fully developed within a month. The average lifespan for a neon goby is approximately a year to a year and a half.
Species
- Elacatinus atronasus (Böhlke and Robins, 1968)
- Elacatinus chancei (Beebe and Hollister, 1933)
- Elacatinus digueti (Pellegrin, 1901) -- banded cleaning goby, gobio barbero, redhead goby
- Elacatinus evelynae (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- gobio hocicudo, gobio tiburoncito, sharknose goby, sharpnose goby
- Elacatinus figaro Sazima, Moura and Rosa, 1997
- Elacatinus genie (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- cleaner goby, cleaning goby, gobio limpiador
- Elacatinus horsti (Metzelaar, 1922) -- gobio de banda amarilla, yellowline goby
- Elacatinus illecebrosus (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- barsnout goby, gobio seductor
- Elacatinus janssi Bussing, 1981—gobio lomopintado, spotback goby
- Elacatinus jarocho (Taylor & Akins, 2007)
- Elacatinus limbaughi Hoese and Reader, 2001—gobio insólito, widebanded cleaning goby
- Elacatinus lori (Colin, 2002)
- Elacatinus louisae (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- gobio farol, spotlight goby
- Elacatinus macrodon (Beebe and Tee-Van, 1928) -- gobio tigre, tiger goby
- Elacatinus multifasciatus (Steindachner, 1876) -- gobio rayado, greenband goby, greenbanded goby
- Elacatinus nesiotes Bussing, 1990
- Elacatinus oceanops Jordan, 1904—neon goby
- Elacatinus pridisi (Guimarães, Gasparini & Rocha, 2004)
- Elacatinus prochilos (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- broadstripe goby, gobio bordeado
- Elacatinus randalli (Böhlke and Robins, 1968)
- Elacatinus saucrus (Robins, 1960) -- gobio severo, leopard goby
- Elacatinus tenox (Böhlke and Robins, 1968)
- Elacatinus xanthiprora (Böhlke and Robins, 1968) -- yellowprow goby
- Elacatinus zebrellus (Robins, 1958)