Dragon Goby - Amblygobius phalaena - Small

The Dragon Goby (Amblygobius phalaena) is also known as the Whitebarred Goby. It is silver and white with multicolored bands and spots, most prominently dark vertical bands that cross over horizontal dashes and patches. They have an elongated body with a rounded face and a high dorsal fin.

"Hover Gobies" (genuses Amblygobius and Koumansetta) are named for their behavior of hovering just above the substrate rather than perching on it like many other gobies. They are very similar to the group of gobies known as sandsifter or sleeper gobies (mostly genus Valenciennea). They take mouthfuls of the substrate and sift it out through their gills, searching for food. This can help keep the substrate aerated, and may help prevent the build-up of organic debris that leads to high nitrate levels, algae, and cyanobacteria ("Red Slime Algae"). They should be kept in a tank with fine, soft substrate that will not damage their gills as they sift.

They will eat a variety of frozen foods and possibly flake and pellet. Gobies prefer a tank with plenty of rocky hiding places. They get along with most tankmates, but can be aggressive toward other gobies. When startled or threatened, they have been known to jump out of uncovered aquariums. Always keep the tank covered and provide plenty of hiding places for this fish to retreat to.

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