Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Also known as: Yellow Prawn-goby, Yellow Shrimp-goby, Yellow Shrimp Goby
A pint-sized goby that shares its burrow with a nearly blind shrimp partner.
About
The yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) is one of the reef hobby's best examples of natural symbiosis in action. Across its range in the Western Pacific, from Japan's Yaeyama Islands down through Singapore, Micronesia, and the southern Great Barrier Reef, this small goby lives alongside alpheid snapping shrimps in shared burrows on sandy lagoon floors and sheltered coastal slopes, typically at depths between 10 and 25 meters. The arrangement is a genuine partnership: the shrimp excavates and maintains the burrow while the goby, with its far sharper eyesight, stands guard at the entrance and alerts its housemate to danger. In the aquarium the same behavior plays out beautifully, and pairing this fish with a compatible pistol shrimp is one of the more rewarding setups a reef keeper can put together. Coloration runs to bright yellow with pale banding and spotted patterning on the head and fins, making it easy to spot against a sandy substrate. Personality-wise it sits somewhere between cautious and inquisitive. It will bolt into its burrow at the first sign of a threat, but once settled it spends plenty of time perching at the entrance watching the world go by. A sand bed and calm tankmates are the main requirements for keeping this species happy.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Yellow Watchman Goby
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the Yellow Watchman Goby get?
- The Yellow Watchman Goby reaches about 2–4" as an adult.
- What size tank does the Yellow Watchman Goby need?
- A minimum of 15 gallons is recommended for the Yellow Watchman Goby.
- What water parameters does the Yellow Watchman Goby need?
- The Yellow Watchman Goby does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Yellow Watchman Goby aggressive?
- The Yellow Watchman Goby is generally peaceful and suits a community tank with similarly calm tankmates.
- What does the Yellow Watchman Goby eat?
- The Yellow Watchman Goby is a carnivore. It needs a meaty, protein-rich diet of frozen or live foods.
- How long does the Yellow Watchman Goby live?
- With good care, the Yellow Watchman Goby typically lives 5-8 years.
- Is the Yellow Watchman Goby reef safe?
- The Yellow Watchman Goby is generally considered reef safe.