Red Head Goby

Red Head Goby (Elacatinus puncticulatus) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe, admired for its striking red or orange head, sleek black body with iridescent blue or white longitudinal stripes, small size, and its role as a cleaner goby.

Males typically may be slightly larger and more territorial during spawning, often guarding eggs laid in small crevices, while females/juveniles tend to be smaller with slightly less intense coloration.

They reach about 1.5 to 2 inches in adult size and should be housed in aquariums of at least 10 gallons, though larger tanks allow for better stability and potential pairing.

Provide ample live rock with small crevices or caves for hiding, along with moderate open swimming space. These gobies often perch and dart around rocks, and may set up cleaning stations for tank mates. A secure lid is important, as they can jump when startled.

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 crushed pellets, and other protein-rich foods. While they may pick at parasites or dead tissue on tank mates, they should not be relied upon solely for "cleaner" behavior and must be fed regularly.

With proper care, the Red Head Goby makes a colorful, low-maintenance, and active addition to nano reefs and peaceful community aquariums, often displaying fascinating interactions with other fish.

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.