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Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) — Gobiidae

Neon goby

Elacatinus oceanops
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–45.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The neon goby is a very small, brilliantly coloured goby from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a black body with a dazzling, electric-blue stripe along the whole flank. As a famous cleaner fish it occupies fixed cleaning stations on coral and heads, where larger reef fish come to have parasites and dead skin removed. It is highly popular in the reef aquarium and is bred there. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Neon goby?

The Neon goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Neon goby live?

The Neon goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Neon goby get?

The Neon goby grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Neon goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Neon goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Neon goby edible?

The Neon goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Neongrondel verified
English name
Neon goby verified
Scientific name
Elacatinus oceanops
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Neon goby sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Elacatinus

More from the family Gobiidae

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