Source: Wikimedia Commons
Yellow Watchman Goby
BeginnerCryptocentrus cinctus
A beautiful goby with vivid yellow body. Symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp observable in tank.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
23〜26℃
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
5-10cm
Diet
Frozen food, Artificial feed
About
The yellow watchman goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) lives over silty sand in sheltered western Pacific waters. Most specimens are bright yellow flecked with blue spots; adults reach 5-10 cm. The draw is its partnership with alpheid pistol shrimp: the nearly blind shrimp digs and maintains the burrow while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard at the entrance, signalling danger with a flick of its tail. To reproduce that in the aquarium, introduce a compatible pistol shrimp at the same time and give them a deep substrate of mixed sand and rubble so the burrow does not collapse. The goby is hardy and easy to feed, but conspecifics fight, so keep only a pair. It is prone to jumping.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Yellow Watchman Goby
The Yellow Watchman Goby lives 3-5 years.
Size of the Yellow Watchman Goby
The Yellow Watchman Goby grows to 5-10cm.
Temperature & humidity for the Yellow Watchman Goby
The ideal water temperature for the Yellow Watchman Goby is 22〜26℃.
Basic Info
Origin
the Western Pacific
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
5-10cm
Care Specifications
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Water Temp.
- 22–26℃
- Specific Gravity
- 1.02–1.025
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt
- Min. Tank
- 114 L
PeacefulReef safe
Sources: LiveAquaria
Captive Breeding
Egg-laying
- Incubation temp.
- 26〜27℃
- Incubation days
- 4〜5 days
- Sexual maturity
- 24〜30 mo
Breeding season: Year-round in tropical marine conditions
Breeding notes
Monogamous pairs spawn in burrows shared with symbiotic pistol shrimps. The female deposits adhesive demersal eggs that the male guards until hatching. At 26–27 °C incubation takes approximately 4–5 days. One captive breeding report recorded first spawning when the female was ~2 years old (105 mm) and the male ~2.5 years (90 mm); these figures derive from a single captive pair and should not be taken as the minimum age at maturity for the species. Larvae undergo a pelagic phase before metamorphosing into juveniles.
Breeding requires planning, proper husbandry, and responsibility. These figures are general guidelines.
Sources: Fatherree 2005 — Spawning and Rearing the Yellow Watchman Goby (Reef Keeping Magazine, Dec 2005) / Breeders Registry — Cryptocentrus cinctus spawn report CRYCIN-121205-CASNIC-001
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
- Wikipedia
- CITES Appendices (species not listed)
- Ministry of the Environment Specified Animal List
- Ministry of the Environment: List of Designated Invasive Species
- LiveAquaria
- Fatherree 2005 — Spawning and Rearing the Yellow Watchman Goby (Reef Keeping Magazine, Dec 2005)
- Breeders Registry — Cryptocentrus cinctus spawn report CRYCIN-121205-CASNIC-001
- WoRMS
- GBIF
Taxonomy & Authority
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / Ministry of the Environment Specified Animal List / Ministry of the Environment: List of Designated Invasive Species
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Yellow Watchman Goby Listings
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