Green Clown Goby

The Green Clown Goby is one of the smallest and most endearing fish available for marine aquariums, reaching a maximum size of just one and a half inches. Its chubby, rounded body is a vivid lime green accented with striking red-orange vertical bars across the head and body, creating a clown-like pattern that gives the species its common name. This tiny fish spends its life perched among the branches of SPS corals, particularly Acropora species, where its diminutive size and bright coloration make it look like a living ornament nestled in the coral colony.

In the wild, Green Clown Gobies have an intimate and obligate relationship with branching corals, rarely straying more than a few inches from their host colony. They secrete a toxic mucus coating that protects them from predators and also deters coral-feeding organisms, providing a degree of protection to their host coral. However, in the aquarium, they may cause minor tissue recession on SPS coral branches where they perch and lay eggs, as they clear small patches of tissue to create egg-laying sites. This behavior is generally cosmetic and rarely threatens the overall health of a robust coral colony.

The Green Clown Goby is an excellent choice for nano reef aquariums as small as 10 gallons. It is peaceful, hardy, readily accepts prepared foods, and is completely safe with all invertebrates and most corals. Multiple specimens can be kept together in larger tanks, as they are social and form loose groups in the wild. They are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they begin life as males and can change to female, and bonded pairs will spawn regularly in captivity. Their tiny size, bold colors, and charming perching behavior on coral branches make them perennial favorites among nano reef enthusiasts.