Citron Clown Goby

Overview

The Citron Clown Goby is a tiny, bright yellow goby that lives among the branches of stony corals, particularly Acropora, using them as both shelter and a vantage point to pick at passing food. Its small size makes it an excellent choice for nano reef tanks where larger fish wouldn't be appropriate.

It's generally reef safe, though it's known to occasionally nibble at the coral tissue or mucus of its host coral, which is why it's rated with caution rather than fully safe — the impact is usually minor but worth being aware of for SPS-focused tanks.

Its calm, sedentary nature and tiny size mean it rarely interacts negatively with other tank inhabitants, making it a popular addition to community nano and pico reef setups.

Compatibility

Citron Clown Gobies are peaceful and pose no threat to fish tankmates, mixing well with other small, calm community fish. They can be kept in pairs in a large enough tank with suitable coral hosts, though unrelated individuals may compete for the same coral colony.

The main compatibility consideration is with the host coral itself — while damage is usually minimal, keepers with valuable SPS colonies should monitor for any tissue irritation at the goby's chosen perch.

Health & quarantine

This is a hardy, small species with few chronic health issues, though it can be a target for aggressive tankmates given its tiny size, so peaceful tankmates are important. A standard quarantine period of two to four weeks is recommended, and it typically acclimates and settles into a host coral quickly.