Neon (Elacatinus oceanops)

Neon Gobies are found in Florida and the Caribbean Sea, and are one of the most recognizable and popular saltwater aquarium fish. It is well documented that this fish is a cleaner species that picks parasites and other debris from the mouth, gills and skin of larger fish. ORA frequently provides Neon Gobies in large quantities to public aquariums for disease control in their displays.  They are small fish, reaching about 2 inches in length.

Neon gobies are easy to keep in aquariums, and are especially well suited to reef tanks. They will eat small bits of frozen and dry aquarium foods although in nature they are almost exclusively parasite pickers. Normally, they are not bothered by larger fish because they are recognized as cleaners. They can fall victim to mantis shrimp, pistol shrimp and other ambush feeders sometimes present in the live rock of reef tanks.

Spawning of this species is well documented, and pairing and spawning are often observed in aquaria. This species can lay 500-800 eggs every 10 days, hatching in about 8-9 days. They spend about 25-28 days as larva until metamorphosis.

Be sure to check out the Hybrid Cleaner Goby that is produced when this fish mates with a Yellowline Goby.