Orange Stripe Prawn Goby

The Orange Stripe Prawn Goby, also known as the Orange Banded Prawn Goby or Watchman Goby, is a popular marine fish among hobbyists. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and is known for its vibrant orange stripes on its head and body, which contrast beautifully with its white body.

In the wild, the Orange Stripe Prawn Goby lives in burrows or tunnels in the sand or rubble of the reef. It is a social fish and often forms symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp, which live in the same burrow. The shrimp provides the goby with a safe place to live, while the goby helps the shrimp by standing guard and warning it of any danger.

In a home aquarium, the Orange Stripe Prawn Goby should be kept in a tank with plenty of live sand and rock. It is a peaceful fish and can be kept with other non-aggressive species. However, it is territorial and may become aggressive towards other gobies or fish of a similar size and shape. It is important to provide the goby with a secure hiding place or burrow, as this is where it will spend most of its time.

The Orange Stripe Prawn Goby is a relatively hardy fish and can adapt to a wide range of water conditions. It prefers a temperature range of 72-78°F and a pH of 8.1-8.4. It is also important to maintain good water quality and provide a balanced diet of frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other small meaty foods.

Breeding the Orange Stripe Prawn Goby in captivity is challenging but possible. The female lays her eggs in the male’s burrow, and the male then guards and fans the eggs until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic and require a specialized diet to survive.

Overall, the Orange Stripe Prawn Goby is a fascinating and attractive fish that is relatively easy to care for in a home aquarium. Its symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp is also a unique and interesting behavior to observe.