Scissortail Goby

The Scissortail Goby (Ptereleotris evides) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe, admired for its slender, elongated body, striking silver-white coloration with a dark horizontal stripe along the body, forked tail resembling scissors, and graceful hovering movements. Its elegant appearance and active behavior make it a popular choice for reef aquariums.

Males typically grow slightly larger and display slightly more vibrant body and fin coloration, while females and juveniles are smaller with softer, paler tones but maintain the characteristic horizontal stripe. They reach about 3–4 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 30 gallons.

Provide a fine sandbed for hovering, scattered live rock for hiding spots, and open swimming areas. Stable water parameters are essential (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temp ~72–79°F, pH ~8.1–8.4), and a secure lid is highly recommended, as scissortail gobies are prone to jumping.

Diet should consist of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and high-quality micro-pellets. With proper care, the Scissortail Goby adds elegant movement and subtle color accents to reef aquariums, making it a standout in community tanks.

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.