Beautiful Hover Goby

The Beautiful Hover Goby (Parioglossus formosus) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe, admired for its slender body, translucent sheen, subtle iridescence, and unique hovering swimming style that sets it apart from bottom-dwelling gobies.

Males typically grow slightly larger, with more vibrant coloration and may display subtle courtship behaviors, while females/juveniles remain smaller with softer tones and less pronounced markings.

They reach about 1.5–2 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 10–15 gallons. Provide live rock for hiding, fine sand or rubble substrate, and open swimming space to allow for their hovering behavior. A secure lid is essential, as this species is prone to jumping.

Maintain stable water parameters:

Salinity: ~1.020–1.025

Temperature: ~72–79°F

pH: ~8.1–8.4

Diet should consist of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped meaty foods, and high-quality micro pellets. Because of their small size and active nature, frequent small feedings are recommended.

With proper care, the Beautiful Hover Goby makes a standout addition to reef and nano aquariums, admired for its delicate beauty and graceful hovering presence.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.