About Yellow Watchman Goby

The Yellow Watchman Goby is one of the most popular shrimp gobies in the aquarium hobby. These bright yellow fish form fascinating symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp, sharing burrows where the shrimp maintains the home while the goby acts as a lookout. Native to the Indo-Pacific, they are peaceful, hardy, and perfect for reef tanks. They spend most of their time near their burrow entrance, watching for danger. Their brilliant yellow coloration adds a splash of color to the bottom of reef aquariums.

Care Guide

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Yellow Watchman Gobies need sand substrate and a pistol shrimp partner (optional but recommended).

Essential Setup:

  • 10+ gallons minimum
  • Sand substrate: 2-3 inches for burrowing
  • Rubble or small rocks: For burrow construction
  • Cave or burrow area
  • Moderate filtration
  • Temperature 72-78°F

Water Quality

  • Temperature: 72-78°F (22-25.5°C)
  • pH: 8.1-8.4
  • Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: <20 ppm

Feeding

Carnivores with small mouths:

  • Frozen Mysis shrimp
  • Frozen brine shrimp
  • Marine pellets (small)
  • Copepods

Target feeding: Place food near burrow entrance.

The Pistol Shrimp Symbiosis

Fascinating relationship:

  • Burrow mates: Share underground home
  • Shrimp maintains: Digs and cleans burrow
  • Goby watches: Stays at entrance as lookout
  • Communication: Touch antennae to stay connected
  • Warning: Goby flicks tail if danger, shrimp retreats

Recommended: Add pistol shrimp partner for natural behavior.

Behavior & Compatibility

Peaceful bottom dwellers:

  • Peaceful: Perfect reef fish
  • Territorial: To other gobies
  • Burrow dwellers: Stay near home
  • Watchful: Always on guard

Good Tank Mates:

  • Clownfish
  • Cardinalfish
  • Blennies (different areas)
  • Dartfish
  • Peaceful reef fish

Avoid:

  • Other gobies (territorial)
  • Aggressive fish
  • Large predators

Burrow Setup

  • Sand required: 2-3 inches minimum
  • Rubble: Small rocks for structure
  • PVC option: Can use buried PVC pipe
  • Natural burrow: They’ll dig their own

Color

  • Bright yellow: Vivid coloration
  • Blue spots: On head and fins
  • Mouth: Large for size

Jumping

  • Can jump: Though less than blennies
  • Secure lid: Still recommended

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity:

  • Pelagic spawners
  • Eggs released to water column
  • Difficult in aquariums

Tips for Success

  • Provide sand substrate (essential)
  • Consider pistol shrimp partner
  • Target feed near burrow
  • Peaceful reef member
  • One per tank
  • Fascinating to observe

Compatible Tank Mates

🐠 Clownfish
🐠 Cardinalfish
🐠 Blennies
🐠 Dartfish
🐠 Pistol Shrimp