Green Clown Goby

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Family: Gobiidae   • Species: Gobies   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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Green Clown Gobies are a very small, brightly colored species that have a comical appearance and great personalities. They are generally found among Acropora corals throughout the the reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Green Clown Gobies are immensely popular as "nano" and even "pico" (although at least 30 gallons is recommended) fish species and are quite often utilized in larger reef systems where they will always bring that extra little bit of comedy and personality.

Green Clown Gobies and all their Gobiodon relatives have the ability to secrete a toxic mucus, forming a defensive layer on the skin; heterospecific predators will usually leave them alone knowing that they are "off limits".

The Green Clown Goby is a cute and peaceful fish that is an excellent choice for beginners who are learning the ropes as they are easy to care for and are quite hardy once established in their aquarium. The Green Clown Goby is readily available throughout the hobby and can be purchased through local stores as well as online retailers.

The Green Clown Goby must be housed in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons and should be provided with a live sand substrate and plenty of live rock for grazing, perching and refuge. They greatly appreciate the presence of established Acropora colonies as they will commonly feed from them and use their dense branches for shelter.

Due to their tiny size, Green Clown Gobies have a very minimal impact on the biological load of their aquarium and don't require any special filtration needs other than a quality biological and mechanical setup. Although they are generally a peaceful species, they can become territorial and aggressive with conspecifics; multiple Green Clown Gobies in the same aquarium require ample space, separate territories, and must be introduced simultaneously.

They tend to coexist happily with other peaceful tank mates, but their eating habits should be closely monitored if housed with aggressive feeders (to ensure they are getting enough to eat); once acclimated and well established they will be able to coexist well with aggressive feeding tank mates. They are a reef safe species, but have been known to nip at Acropora corals and should only be housed with well established colonies that will be relatively unaffected by their small presence (even though they share a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship).

Green Clown Gobies are carnivores that mainly eat amphipods, copepods as well as other zooplankton and benthic invertebrates among the reefs of their natural habitat. A supply of live amphipods or copepods would be appreciated in addition to a variety of live, frozen, freeze-dried, and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, cyclops, bloodworms, and chopped seafood. They may also accept quality pellet (soft) and flake foods for carnivores and omnivores. Green Clown Gobies should be fed once or twice a day, only what will be consumed in a few minutes.