Neon Goby
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops
CommonGobiidaeHarmlessRegional endemic
ID points
- An electric blue glowing stripe runs from snout to tail along the side
- Tiny body with a black back
- Perches on coral heads and sets up a cleaning station
Basics
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Length
- 3–5 cm
- Depth
- 1-40 m
- Regions
- Caribbean & W. Atlantic
- Distribution
- Caribbean coral reefs
- Habitat
- Coral heads on Caribbean reefs
- Diet
- Parasites off larger fish
Easily confused with
GobyThe two pelvic fins are fused into a single sucker
Lizard GobyVery small, with a short rounded body flattened side to side
MudskipperTwo eyes bulge from the top of the head and swivel independentlyFun fact
It staffs a cleaning station, picking parasites off the skin and out of the mouths of bigger fish, which queue up patiently for the service.