More info
Common Name: Citrus Goby, Yellow Clown Goby, Lemon Goby
Scientific Name: Gobiodon citrinus (Rüppell, 1838)
Order: Gobiiformes — Family: Gobiidae
Distribution: Indo-Pacific — Red Sea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Great Barrier Reef, and Micronesia. Found almost exclusively among Acropora corals.
Lifespan: 3 to 6 years
Maximum Adult Size: 4–5 cm
pH: 8.0 – 8.4 — Hardness: 8 – 12 dKH
Temperature: 24°C – 28°C
Minimum Tank Size: 80 litres (ideally with healthy Acropora colonies)
Reef Safe (Compatibility): Partially reef safe — harmless to soft corals and LPS, but may irritate host Acropora colonies.
Behaviour & Compatibility:
A peaceful and sedentary species, perfect for calm reef aquariums. Lives in a close symbiosis with Acropora corals, using them for shelter and spawning. Can become territorial toward similar small gobies. Compatible with peaceful tankmates; avoid aggressive or very active species.
Diet:
Opportunistic carnivore. In the wild, feeds on small crustaceans, copepods and zooplankton. In captivity accepts frozen foods (brine shrimp, mysis, cyclops), micro-pellets and fine prepared diets. Multiple small daily feedings are recommended.
Reproduction:
Oviparous and protogynous (can change sex within a pair). Forms stable pairs and lays eggs among the branches of Acropora. Parents guard the clutch until hatching. Breeding is possible in captivity but challenging due to dependence on the host coral.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Difficult to distinguish; sexes appear very similar. Within breeding pairs, the dominant individual usually becomes male. Females appear rounder when carrying eggs.
Habitat & Biotope:
Exclusively inhabits healthy coral reefs rich in Acropora. Exhibits strong cryptic behaviour, staying hidden among the coral branches.
Etymology:
Gobiodon comes from “gobius” (Latin, goby) and “-odon” (tooth). Citrinus means “lemon-coloured”, referencing its bright yellow hue.