Neon/Cleaner Gobies

The Neon or Cleaner Gobies, Genera Gobiosoma (29 species) and Elacatinus (7 species): Ah, the genera Gobiosoma and Elacatinus, mainly of the western Atlantic. These sparkling black, white, and blue or gold jewels should be as common in marine aquariums as Corydoras catfishes in freshwater tanks; no, more so. These slivers of happiness are extremely hardy and of great utility; ideal first fish for the new marine hobbyists as they will pick off parasites and dead tissue from your other fishes. Looking for a marine species to try your hand at captive breeding? Look no further. The premier Neon (Cleaner) Goby, Gobiosoma oceanops, is a prime candidate. It has been tank-bred and reared in commercial quantities for years. As an example of typical goby reproduction, we'll describe the process. The parents are small and may be maintained easily in a twenty gallon system. They pair and spawn readily and regularly, with demersal (bottom) eggs, and parental care. Sexing is best left up to the fish by purchasing a handful and letting them sort things out. Individuals may be sexed with practice and close observation. Rather than trying to describe the relative and variable body shape and color differences between males and females, I'd rather encourage you to gauge which is which for the entire group via their genital papilla. immediately in front of their anal fins. You may need to use a flashlight; the males' are cone-shaped and pointed at the tip; those of females' are generally only visible near spawning and are short and rounded at the tip. Commercial breeders use short section of small diameter plastic pipe as spawning sites and raise the eggs separate from their parents, but they will spawn and rear their young on most anything solid. The fry are raised on unicellular plankton (Euplotes & Brachionus are recommended). The young are fully developed in a month; which seems fast until you realize their full lifespan is but a year or two. Please see the references below if you are intent on breeding Gobiosoma. My favorite species are Gobiosoma oceanops and Gobiosoma evelynae. These two are the most intensely captive bred and available, though many more should be along soon commercially. Elacatinus puncticulatus (Ginsburg 1938), the Red Headed Neon Goby. Eastern Central Pacific; Sea of Cortez to Ecuador. To under two inches in length. A real beauty and tough, but small addition to reef tanks. These ones in captivity at a wholesaler and retailers. The Sharknose Goby, Gobiosoma evelynae Bohlke & Robins 1968. Tropical West Atlantic; Bahamas to Venezuela. To about two inches in length. Variable in color. Gobiosoma evelynae; blue and white striped adults in the Bahamas, and one in Bonaire. Gobiosoma illecebrosum Bohlke & Robins 1968, the Barsnout Goby. Central Western Atlantic; Yucatan of Mexico to Panama. Identified in the field by a white bar that runs midline between the eyes, blue line on either side of the body that extends to the tail. Cozumel image. Gobiosoma oceanops (Jordan 1904), THE Neon Goby. Tropical West Atlantic; southern Florida to Belize. To two inches in length. Gobiosoma prochilos Bohlke & Robyns 1968, the Broadstripe Goby. Tropical central West Atlantic. To four cm. Bred in captivity. These off of Cancun, Mexico. Gobiosoma randalli Bohlke & Robins 1968. Yellownose or Randall's Goby. Tropical West Atlantic; Puerto Rico to Venezuela. To under two inches in length. Here are an individual in captivity, and one off Bonaire.

Photography is a still of life posted a reply:

Id say a dark room, no flash, and a wide aperture. Try using d.