Sharknose goby

About

The sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae) is one of the Caribbean's most fascinating small reef fish, best known for running cleaning stations where it picks parasites and dead tissue from a remarkable range of clients. Including sharks many times its own size. Native to the Western Atlantic, this little goby is found across Caribbean reef systems where it typically perches in a prominent spot, often at the tip of a coral head, advertising its cleaning services to passing fish. It's a slender, elongated species with a distinctive pale stripe running the length of its body against a darker background, making it easy to identify once you know what you're looking for. In the aquarium, sharknose gobies are reef-safe and generally peaceful, posing no real threat to invertebrates or other small tankmates. They may attempt to clean other fish in the aquarium, which is usually harmless and often accepted willingly. They tend to stay small and don't demand a large footprint, though they do best with established rockwork that gives them perching spots and bolt-holes. Keeping them fed with appropriately sized meaty foods is important since their natural food source, ectoparasites, won't be available in sufficient quantity in a home tank. A solid intermediate-level species for a well-maintained reef setup.