Yellow stripped neon goby (Elacatinus figaro)

Elacatinus figaro - The captive-bred yellow neon cleaner goby is very similar to the popular blue neon cleaner goby. This small, hardy goby is ideal for nano-aquariums. This species is a facultative cleaner that will gently clean the larger fish in your tank. It does not rely on cleaning larger fish as a food source and will happily accept a wide range of foods such as tiny pellets, frozen calanus, baby Hikari brine shrimp, and small chopped mysis. It can also live in nano-aquariums or species-only tanks without any fish to clean.

It is difficult to reliably determine the sex of neon gobies. It is best to keep a single goby or a pair. Large aquariums with lots of rocks as territory can accommodate larger groups, but quarrels are to be expected, and a large, dominant male can be very aggressive towards other neon gobies. These gobies are peaceful towards non-conformists and completely harmless to reefs with all coral and ornamental invertebrates. Most larger species will recognize them as cleaners, but it is best to avoid keeping them with aggressive species. It is possible to group different species of Elacatinus in larger aquariums. We recommend introducing new fish into an acclimation tank.

Captive-bred neon gobies are generally much more resilient than their wild counterparts, which are often infected with parasites when they arrive at your aquarist's. This species has a short lifespan, so choosing captive-bred neon gobies is a wise choice to ensure you acquire a young specimen.

Technical characteristics:

• Scientific name: Elacatinus figaro

• Average adult size: 5-6 cm

• Ideal temperature: 24-28°C

• Density: 1.023 – 1.025

• pH: 8.1 – 8.4

• Light: Medium to strong

• Water flow: Moderate to strong (appreciates well-oxygenated mixing)

Care Instructions & Recommendations:

1️⃣ Compatibility : Peaceful fish, can be kept alone or in pairs.

2️⃣ Diet : Omnivorous, feeds on small crustaceans, plankton, brine shrimp and enriched pellets.

3️⃣ Behavior : Active and helpful, often seen cleaning other fish.

4️⃣ Acclimatization : Drop-by-drop method recommended to avoid stress.

5️⃣ Maintenance : Provide small caves or rocky hiding places.