Neon Gobies

[Bear22]

Guys,

Would a blue neon goby and a yellow neon goby get along in a 11 gallon nano? Or as conspecifics would they duke it out?

Cheers!

 

[386reeftrader]

I've never kept the yellow variety but I've had sharknose and the regular together with no issues. Neon gobies are a very communal species in the wild. They have a lot of personality in a group I always think they are best kept with 4-5 individuals

 

[BeanAnimal]

That is a very small system and they are extremely territorial. Chances are they will fight unless they are introduced as bonded pair, and that is highly unlikely.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Neon gobies are a very communal species in the wild. They have a lot of personality in a group I always think they are best kept with 4-5 individuals

Partly true, but context matters. The issue here is space. Feeding areas on a reef and “home” territory are two different things. In an 11 gallon tank, neither will be able to carve out home territory.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Better chances if you get them captive bred.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Better chances if you get them captive bred.

I would agree. Will it stick as they mature? I don’t know. I would hedge on nature taking its course.

 

[386reeftrader]

Partly true, but context matters. The issue here is space. Feeding areas on a reef and “home” territory are two different things. In an 11 gallon tank, neither will be able to carve out home territory.

I’ve seen groups of 20+ on a 2x2’ head of coral. They colonize on heads of brain corals and star corals in the wild. Space is not much of an issue for neon gobies. In 11 gal I’d say 3-5 could be kept easily

 

[BeanAnimal]

I’ve seen groups of 20+ on a 2x2’ head of coral. They colonize on heads of brain corals and star corals in the wild. Space is not much of an issue for neon gobies. In 11 gal I’d say 3-5 could be kept easily

That would be neat to see!

There is plenty of peer reviewed data regarding wild behavior and aggression only anecdotal data regarding captive aggression.

I think you will find that there is a tremendous difference between a colonized coral head in the ocean, with individual sets of bonded pairs staking micro territories and a small glass aquarium with 2 or 3 random wild captured specimens. I could be wrong,

As mentioned above, introducing a bonded pair or captive bred is the best bet. I don’t know if they are sold that way.