Signal Goby - Medium

Signal Gobies

The Signal Gobies have a white head and body, with orange markings splashed over them and the dorsal fin has eyespot markings.

A mated pair of Signal Gobies are monogamous and will share a burrow. If one gets separated from its mate it will often starve itself to death.

Signal Gobies have bred in captivity, but it is not something that happens regularly. In the wild, the female will deposit her eggs in a burrow. The male then enters the burrow to fertilize the eggs and the female seals him in for 2-3 days. The female does unseal the male on occasions, for eating or burrow maintenance, and then seals him back inside. When the male finally leaves the burrow for good, he will make another burrow with the female or re-open an old one. The next time the burrow with the eggs is unsealed it will release 1 juvenile.

Signal Gobies are often quite difficult to source and purchasing one will depend on availability in stores.

The natural habitat for this species is at the bottom of coastal areas such as bays and lagoons. They usually reside around areas of coral and rubble. A mature adult can grow to a length of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters)

Its native territory is Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia & Vanuatu.

Tank Recommendations for the Fire Dartfish Goby

We recommend that these fish should be housed in a tank that is at least 10 gallons (37.8 liters).

An attached populated refugium is often recommended when housing Signal Gobies in an aquarium system.

Signal gobies sift through sand to search for food and dive into it for shelter. It is recommended to use live sand as a substrate when housing this species.

Signal Gobies do not nibble at corals and are generally considered reef safe. They may cause damage to invertebrates in the substrate when sifting sand for food.

Suitable Tank Buddies

A Signal Goby will not bother most other fish, although it may fight with conspecifics. It is best suited with docile, passive tank buddies.

They can be housed as a mated pair and this is often cited as preferable to housing them as a single specimen.

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank buddies for Signal Gobies include Dwarf Angels, Basslets, Chromis, Damsels, Hawkfish, Puffers, Tangs/Surgeons, and reef-safe Wrasse.

Sometime Compatible

Use caution when housing a Signal Goby with conspecifics, Large Angels, Grunts/Sweetlips, Hogfish, Parrots, Seahorse/Pipefish, Squirrelfish, Triggers, and fish only Wrasse.

Rarely Compatible

Signal Gobies should not be housed with Anglers/Frogfish, Eels, Groupers, Lions/Scorpions, or Sharks/Rays.

Feeding Your Fire Dartfish Goby

The Signal Goby is carnivorous. They feed off the bottom, sifting then sand when searching for food. A suitable diet should include, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp (live or vitamin-enriched frozen), prepared carnivorous foods, and live black worms.