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 prawn-goby is a species of goby native to the Western Pacific, where it can be found at depths of from 1 to 25 metres in coastal bays and lagoons. This species is symbiotic with alpheid shrimps. They share burrows with these shrimp. The species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. These fish vary greatly in appearance, ranging from brilliant yellow to gray and even brown forms or combinations of each coloring. This species is often kept in salt water aquariums. The yellow prawn-goby can be kept in aquariums as small as 20 gallons. In the marine hobby they are often partnered with tiger pistol shrimp.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Basic Info
Origin
the Western Pacific
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
5-10cm
Temperature
23〜26℃
Diet
Frozen food, Artificial feed
Care Guide
Housing
Keep with pistol shrimp on sand bottom
Feeding
Eats almost anything, very hardy
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: br-choku editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / 環境省 特定動物リスト / 環境省 特定外来生物等一覧
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Yellow Watchman Goby Listings
Loading latest listingsFind listings for this species
