Amblygobius goby Hi Bob, <Kari> We picked up this goby at the LFS last weekend. He's really pretty. My husband and I are debating whether it is an Amblygobius albimaculatus or phalaena. Can you tell? The guy at the store said he was a Banded Sleeper Goby (which implies phalaena), but all the pictures of phalaena we've seen on the internet and in books show a fish that isn't quite as white as ours. I understand there can be quite a bit of variation within a species, and that this is splitting hairs really, but we'd like to try to find out as best we can.   <This is a very light colored specimen... Any idea of the origin? It's close in appearance but I do suspect this is an A. phalaena... A. albimaculatus (from the Red Sea) is quite rare in the trade in the west...> On another note, we have a 55 gallon tank we are going to put him in. We have a lawnmower blenny in another tank in the house, but I'd like to put him in the 55 gallon tank as well. Would this goby and the lawnmower blenny be compatible?  They're both going to be big and since they are both bottom dwellers, I wasn't sure. <Should be fine... would be better if the Amblygobius had been placed first, but since it is a very different feeder, the Goby should leave it alone. If there is any overt aggression, I would net out and isolate (in the tank or elsewhere) the Algae eater for a few days. Bob Fenner> Thanks! Kari
Re: Amblygobius goby Hi Bob, <Kari> Thanks for the response! The guy at the LFS said he came from the Indian Ocean. Not too specific... <Mmm, well A. albimaculatus is found amongst many islands of the Indian Ocean: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=6675&genusname=Amblygobius&speciesname=albimaculatus but there are VERY few collectors of this large area that ship even indirectly to the U.S.... your fish would cost fifty or more dollars retail if it came from this area... or some other set of mitigating circumstances (e.g. error)> I'm glad he and the lawnmower blenny should get along ok. Since neither fish is actually in the 55g tank yet, I'll be sure to put the goby in first (when he is finished with QT) and then transfer the blenny to the tank after the goby is there. The blenny is still quite small so he can stay where he is in our smaller tank for the time being. <Ah, good idea. Be chatting, Bob Fenner> Thanks! Kari

Amblygobius semicinctus or phalaena   8/23/06
Hi there WWM crew, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
I'm emailing about a new fish I procured at the LFS, and wanted to find more information about it.  Doing my research through the WWM website, I've found that the "Dragon Goby" they labeled is actually a "Banded Goby", or Amblygobius semicinctus/phalaena (not sure because the pictures between the two look really similar).
<Are very similar in appearance, utility>
As for now, I know that these hovering gobies eat filamentous algae, but mostly copepods, Mysis shrimp, and other small crustaceans, am I correct?
<Yep>
I would like to know what to actually feed it, in order to make sure it stays healthy.
<Mmm, usually not much of an issue... these gobies readily accept most all foods>
So far, it looks like it has done a fine job cleaning the sand-bed.  I just want to make sure it doesn't starve for any reason.  My last diamond goby had territorial issues with an
aggressive Kole tang, and starved to death.  This banded goby has actually gotten along quite well with the Kole tang.
So, to sum up, I'd like to know what foods I may feed it.  Thanks!
Alex
<I'd use mostly defrosted/frozen meaty foods of small-enough size, and a baster (plastic) to "blow" these down toward the goby... about the same place, times daily. Bob Fenner>