Spotted Prawn Goby

The Spotted Prawn Goby is an attractive and robust shrimp goby recognized for its bold pattern of bright orange spots scattered across a white to cream-colored body. The spots are well-defined and evenly distributed, creating a polka-dot appearance that makes this species one of the more visually striking members of the Amblyeleotris genus. Adults reach approximately 4 inches in length, placing them among the medium-sized shrimp gobies.

True to its genus, the Spotted Prawn Goby forms a devoted symbiotic relationship with Alpheid pistol shrimp. In this mutualistic partnership, the goby provides vigilant watch for predators while the nearly blind shrimp excavates and maintains a shared burrow in the sandy substrate. The shrimp maintains constant contact with the goby's body via its antennae, and the goby signals danger with specific body movements. This inter-species communication system is one of the most studied and fascinating examples of marine symbiosis.

In the home aquarium, the Spotted Prawn Goby is a hardy and relatively easy-to-keep species that adapts well to captive conditions. It requires a sand substrate of at least two inches for burrowing and benefits greatly from being paired with a compatible pistol shrimp. This species is reef-safe, peaceful, and an excellent choice for aquarists who want to observe symbiotic behavior firsthand.