Gobiosoma multifasciatum
Encyclopedia
The Green banded goby, Elacatinus multifasciatum, is a member of the goby
family native to the western Atlantic ocean
, from the Bahamas and Central America
to northern South America
. As the name implies, they are dark green with 17-23 pale green bars, and have a brown stripe through the eye interrupted with a bright red spot.
Equally bright as their coloration is their personality; they are valued additions to reef aquaria, with a reputation for being friendly and entertaining.
. It is especially suited to nano reef tanks because of its small size.
Because of territorial
issues with their own kind in the small confines of a tank, they are best kept singly or as a breeding pair.
. The species is highly resilient, with localized populations able to double within fifteen months.
to form a breeding pair. In the case of two females forming a pair, the larger of the two becomes male, and in the case of two males, the smaller changes sex to become female.
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...
family native to the western Atlantic ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, from the Bahamas and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
to northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. As the name implies, they are dark green with 17-23 pale green bars, and have a brown stripe through the eye interrupted with a bright red spot.
Equally bright as their coloration is their personality; they are valued additions to reef aquaria, with a reputation for being friendly and entertaining.
Description
G. multifasciatum have a generally fusiform shape. At maturity they can reach a length of 3.5 cm.In the aquarium
The Green banded goby is popular with aquarists and is generally considered to be reef safeReef safe
Reef safe is a distinction used in the saltwater aquarium hobby to indicate that a fish or invertebrate is safe to add to a reef aquarium. There is no fish that is completely reef safe. Every fish that is commonly listed as reef safe are species that usually do not readily consume small fish or...
. It is especially suited to nano reef tanks because of its small size.
Because of territorial
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
issues with their own kind in the small confines of a tank, they are best kept singly or as a breeding pair.
Conservation status
Gobiosoma multifasciatum is not found on the IUCN Red ListIUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
. The species is highly resilient, with localized populations able to double within fifteen months.
Reproduction
Gobiodon sp. start life as females, and are bi-directional protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that when paired up, if necessary, one changes sexSex change
Sex change is a term often used for gender reassignment therapy, that is, all medical procedures transgendered people can have, or specifically to sexual reassignment surgery, which usually refers to genitalia surgery only...
to form a breeding pair. In the case of two females forming a pair, the larger of the two becomes male, and in the case of two males, the smaller changes sex to become female.