Yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Okinawa goby, Yellow coral goby
Family
Gobiidae (gobies)
Origin
Western Pacific, from southern Japan to the southern Great Barrier Reef, in sheltered lagoons.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
3.5 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
40 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes

Care

Lives in groups of 5–15 on the outer branches of Acropora corals. Keep it in a reef with branching stony corals to perch in; it suits nano reefs. Tank size here is an estimate. The sources give no water figures, so the temperature, pH and salinity shown are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, specific gravity 1.023–1.026, with stable, well-filtered water. Its skin produces a bitter, toxic mucus that puts predators off. It may do a wiggling display while perched. Listed by the IUCN as Least Concern. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobiodonokinawae). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Feeds mainly on plankton, darting out from its perch to catch passing food. It rarely accepts flake or pellets, so offer live or frozen foods, ideally at least four different kinds in rotation.

Breeding

Starts life as a female; two fish of the same sex sort themselves into a pair. Eggs are laid in rings on coral branches, up to about 1,000 per clutch, and the male guards them until they hatch at about five days. Young settle at around a month and colour up at about 40 days.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe. Not usually aggressive but defends its perch against other yellow clown gobies; keep one or a pair in small tanks.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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