Stiphodon gobies with shrimp
Stiphodon are small, colorful gobies of the subfamily Sicydiinae that live in short, clear coastal streams on tropical, often volcanic islands, usually above waterfalls (Seriously Fish). Several species turn up in stores: the blue neon goby, Stiphodon atropurpureus, from southern Japan, Taiwan, southern China, the Philippines and Malaysia; the cobalt blue goby, S. semoni, from Sumatra east to the Solomon Islands; and the rainbow stiphodon, S. ornatus, from Sumatra, sold as 'rainbow', 'gold fin' or 'gold cheek' (Seriously Fish). They are often sold under the wrong names, and Seriously Fish says all Stiphodon in the trade are wild-collected. In the wild they share their streams with Macrobrachium shrimp and nerite snails (Seriously Fish).
Stiphodon at a glance
| Stiphodon gobies (S. atropurpureus, S. semoni, S. ornatus) | |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 50 mm (2.0 in) SL for S. atropurpureus and S. semoni; 70 mm (2.8 in) for S. ornatus; 35 mm (1.4 in) for S. percnopterygionus (Seriously Fish) |
| Temperature | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) for S. atropurpureus; 72–82 °F for S. semoni; 68–82 °F for S. ornatus (Seriously Fish) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 (Seriously Fish) |
| Hardness | 2–12 dGH (Seriously Fish) |
| Tank | Base of 24 × 12 in (60 × 30 cm), about 14 US gallons, for a pair or small group; 31 × 12 in for S. ornatus; bigger for several species (Seriously Fish) |
| Group | One male with two or more females as a minimum (Seriously Fish) |
| Diet | Specialized grazer on algae and biofilm (Seriously Fish, Aquarium Co-Op) |
| Temperament | Peaceful community fish; males loosely territorial (Seriously Fish) |
Will Stiphodon gobies eat shrimp?
- Adult shrimp: safe. Seriously Fish describes Stiphodon as specialized algae grazers with mouthparts and teeth built for scraping, and an elongated gut designed for plant matter. Aquarium Co-Op lists them among the grazers to keep with cherry shrimp.
- Shrimplets: a small risk. Seriously Fish says they may accept small meaty foods such as bloodworm, so in our reading a goby could take a tiny shrimplet it happens across, but they are not hunters. Dense moss gives babies cover (Aquarium Co-Op).
- Eggs and berried females: eggs are safe while carried under the tail.
The real competition is for food: gobies and shrimp both graze biofilm, and Seriously Fish warns that Stiphodon are often sold emaciated and need a mature tank full of algae-covered surfaces. Feed the shrimp separately so the goby's algae lasts. For similar grazers, compare hillstream loaches with shrimp and otocinclus with shrimp, or see the full cherry shrimp tank mates list.
Matching the water
Seriously Fish lists 72–79 °F for S. atropurpureus, 72–82 °F for S. semoni and 68–82 °F for S. ornatus, all at pH 6.5–7.5 and 2–12 dGH, and says more surface agitation is needed toward the warm end to keep oxygen up. The Shrimp Farm lists 65–80 °F, pH 6.8–8.0, GH 4–8 and KH 2–5 for cherry-type shrimp. By our comparison, the overlap is about 72–79 °F, pH 6.8–7.5 and GH 4–8; keep KH at 2–5 for the shrimp, since the goby profiles don't give a KH figure. We'd aim for about 72–78 °F so the water holds more oxygen. Stability matters: Seriously Fish says these gobies need stable conditions and should never go into an immature tank. See shrimp tank pH, GH and KH explained and shrimp tank temperature.
Flow, oxygen and the lid
- Strong, clean flow: Seriously Fish recommends a turnover of 10 to 15 times the tank volume per hour, or 5 to 10 with good oxygenation, using an oversized filter, powerheads, flow pumps or airstones. Cover the intakes with sponge so shrimplets aren't pulled in (our suggestion). See shrimp-safe filters.
- A tight lid: Seriously Fish says a tight-fitting cover is necessary because Stiphodon can climb glass. See do shrimp need a lid.
- Weekly water changes of 30 to 50% are essential, but let algae grow on every surface except the front glass (Seriously Fish).
Tank size and setup
- Size: Seriously Fish says a base of 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons) suits a pair or small group of S. semoni or S. atropurpureus, 31 × 12 in for the larger S. ornatus, and something bigger for several species, because males are somewhat territorial.
- Rocks and strong light: Seriously Fish suggests sand or gravel topped with water-worn rocks and pebbles, and strong lighting to grow algae. Males dig under rocks to sleep or spawn, so set larger rocks on the tank floor. Hardy plants such as Microsorum, Crinum and Anubias fit; Anubias leaves collect algae and give cover. Moss gives shrimp cover too. See java moss for shrimp.
- Start mature. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.
Group make-up and behavior
Seriously Fish says males are loosely territorial, especially when breeding, but several can share a tank with enough space, food and rockwork that breaks up lines of sight. Females live in loose groups, so one male with two or more females is the recommended minimum. Males are gray with a bright blue to greenish stripe; females are paler with a dark zig-zag stripe (Seriously Fish). Stiphodon have not been raised in captivity: the larvae drift to the sea before returning to fresh water (Seriously Fish).
Other tankmates
Seriously Fish suggests peaceful, similar-sized fish from well-oxygenated streams, such as Tanichthys, Microdevario or small Danio species, and small loaches such as Gastromyzon and Pseudogastromyzon; avoid aggressive feeders such as many Schistura, bigger fish and most cichlids. Herbivorous fish compete for the same algae. See white cloud minnows with shrimp and hillstream loaches with shrimp.
Feeding both
Seriously Fish says Stiphodon need a plentiful supply of algae-covered rocks and prefer diatoms, blue-green and green algae to tough black brush algae. If the tank can't grow enough, it suggests growing algae on rocks in a separate brightly lit container and swapping them in. Sinking dried foods and small meaty foods such as bloodworm may be accepted but should be offered only now and then. Feed the shrimp their own food in a spot the goby doesn't patrol (our suggestion). See best shrimp food and algae in a shrimp tank.
How to add Stiphodon gobies to a shrimp tank
- Check the fish. Seriously Fish warns that Stiphodon are often sold emaciated, which can be hard to fix; a good dealer will have fed them up first.
- Shrimp first, tank mature. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the shrimp colony build up before adding fish, and Seriously Fish says never to add Stiphodon to an immature tank.
- Acclimate slowly. See how to drip acclimate.
- Watch the goby's belly for the first few weeks; a pinched belly means it needs more algae.
- Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.
Common mistakes
- Adding them to a new, clean tank with no algae.
- Leaving the lid off; Seriously Fish says they climb glass.
- Low flow and poor oxygen in a warm tank.
- Keeping them with lots of other algae eaters that strip the biofilm first.
Track it
Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.
Frequently asked questions
Will Stiphodon gobies eat cherry shrimp?
Not adults. Seriously Fish describes them as specialized algae grazers, has seen them kept with Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp, and Aquarium Co-Op suggests them as cherry shrimp tank mates. A rare shrimplet may be taken, in our reading. We rate them a low risk.
How big do Stiphodon gobies get?
About 2 inches (50 mm standard length) for the blue neon and cobalt blue gobies, 2.8 inches for the rainbow stiphodon and 1.4 inches for S. percnopterygionus (Seriously Fish).
What water do Stiphodon gobies need?
Seriously Fish lists about 72 to 79 or 82 °F, pH 6.5 to 7.5 and 2 to 12 dGH, with clean, well-oxygenated, stable water. With cherry shrimp, aim for about 72 to 78 °F, pH 6.8 to 7.5, GH 4 to 8 and KH 2 to 5 in our reading.
Do Stiphodon gobies need a lid?
Yes. Seriously Fish says a tightly fitting cover is necessary because they can climb glass.
What do Stiphodon gobies eat?
Algae and biofilm. Seriously Fish says they need a mature tank with plenty of algae-covered rocks; dried foods and bloodworm should be offered only now and then.
How many Stiphodon gobies should I keep?
At least one male with two or more females (Seriously Fish). Males are loosely territorial, so give several males more space and broken-up rockwork.
Sources: Seriously Fish, Stiphodon semoni (cobalt blue goby) (cobalt blue goby; western Sumatra to the Solomon Islands; often sold as S. elegans or S. atropurpureus; coastal island streams above waterfalls, shared with Macrobrachium shrimp and neritid snails; 50 mm SL; base 60 × 30 cm, about 54 L, 14 US gal, for a pair or small group, bigger for several species; 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, 2–12 dGH; turnover 10–15×, or 5–10× with good oxygenation; gravel or sand with water-worn rocks; strong light for algae; males dig under rocks; Microsorum, Crinum, Anubias; never in immature set-ups; tight cover, climbs glass; 30–50% weekly water changes; specialized algal grazers; bloodworm and dried foods only irregularly; algae-rock nursery; diatoms, cyanobacteria and green algae preferred; often sold emaciated; kept with characins, livebearers and Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp; Tanichthys, Microdevario, small Danio; Gastromyzon, Pseudogastromyzon; avoid Schistura, bigger fish, cichlids; one male with two or more females; not raised in captivity, amphidromous); Seriously Fish, Stiphodon atropurpureus (blue neon goby) (blue neon goby; southern Japan, Taiwan, southern China, Philippines, Malaysia; 50 mm SL; 22–26 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, 2–12 dGH; same care and compatibility); Seriously Fish, Stiphodon ornatus (rainbow stiphodon) (rainbow stiphodon; Aceh and West Sumatra; sold as 'rainbow', 'gold fin', 'gold cheek'; 70 mm SL; base 80 × 30 cm; 20–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, 2–12 dGH; all trade Stiphodon wild-collected); Seriously Fish, Stiphodon percnopterygionus (35 mm SL); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (Stiphodon gobies as a nano aufwuchs grazer with a suction-cup-like mouth, suggested as cherry shrimp tank mates; moss and plants for baby shrimp); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (let shrimp numbers build first; many medications unsafe for invertebrates); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type range 65–80 °F, pH 6.8–8.0, GH 4–8, KH 2–5). Risk rating, temperature advice and the shared water range are our reading of these sources.