Yellow Clown Goby

• ExerciseLow

  A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• GroomingRoutine tank care

  Weekly partial water changes keep them in top shape.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceGreat first pet

  Forgiving and easy to get started with.

• Commitment3–5 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Fin rot · Parasites

The Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodon okinawae) comes from the western Pacific and reaches only about 3 to 3.5 cm. It is a coral-dwelling goby that perches on branching Acropora and other stony corals, moving in short hops rather than swimming, and its skin carries a bitter mucus that discourages predators. A nano reef of 40 litres or more is genuinely adequate, at 24-27C, salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4, with a covered top and branching structure to perch on. Feed small frequent meals of finely chopped mysis, enriched brine and small pellets, because its tiny stomach cannot hold much at once. It is peaceful, safe with other fish and easy to keep, but there is one caveat worth stating: clown gobies sometimes nip at the polyps of SPS corals they sit on, and a pair may lay eggs on a coral branch and cause minor tissue loss. It is harmless in a soft coral or LPS tank.

• How active is a Yellow Clown Goby?

  Low. A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• How much maintenance does a Yellow Clown Goby need?

  Routine tank care. Weekly partial water changes keep them in top shape.

• What tank size does a Yellow Clown Goby need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Yellow Clown Goby a good fit for first-time owners?

  Great first pet. Forgiving and easy to get started with.

• How long do Yellow Clown Goby live?

  3–5 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Yellow Clown Goby?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Fin rot, Parasites. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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