Palauan Riffle Goby

About

The Palauan Riffle Goby (Stiphodon pelewensis) is a small, sand-loving fish from the island streams of Oceania, and one of the more interesting oddities in the freshwater goby world. It stays compact even at full size, which makes its personality all the more outsized. This is a fish that takes cover seriously. When spooked, it has a habit of nosing down into the substrate and burying itself up to its eyes, leaving just its head visible above the sand. It's a charming and slightly comical behavior once you know to look for it, but it does mean the fish can seem shy or even absent in a new setup. Give it time to settle in and choose its favorite hiding spots, and it becomes more visible over time. A well-decorated tank with sandy substrate and some current will help it feel at home and show more natural behavior. Because of its somewhat skittish nature and specific environmental preferences, it's better suited to keepers who have some experience tailoring a setup to a fish's needs rather than the other way around. Keep it with peaceful, non-boisterous tankmates that won't outcompete it at feeding time.