| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Sand Sifting |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 20 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
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| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific |
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| Out of Stock | 2" or smaller - Indo-Pacific |
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Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
The Flagtail Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris yanoi) is a sand-dwelling shrimp goby that helps keep a small area of substrate moving as it maintains a burrow entrance. It has a pale body with orange to reddish bars and distinctive flag-like markings in the tail, and it’s often kept for its classic shrimp goby “lookout” behavior.
What You’ll Observe:
- Perching at the burrow entrance and making quick, controlled dashes back to cover
- “Standing guard” posture near its home base, especially once it picks a favorite spot
- Regular sand-moving around the entrance as it keeps the burrow area clear
- Strong interest in small meaty foods, often grabbing pieces as they drift past the burrow
To help it settle in, provide a fine sand bed with a few small pieces of rubble near the base of rockwork so it can establish a stable burrow zone. Offer small meaty foods in multiple small feedings, and consider target-feeding near its chosen spot once it’s out regularly. A secure lid helps it stay comfortable in an active reef.
Will it pair with a pistol shrimp right away?
Some pairs link up quickly, while others take days to a couple of weeks; placing the shrimp near the goby’s chosen burrow area speeds up “finding” each other.
Is it normal if I don’t see it much after adding it?
Yes—many shrimp gobies spend long stretches near the burrow at first, then become more visible once they’ve established a home base.
Does it need a pistol shrimp to do well?
No, it can thrive without one, but the goby-and-shrimp partnership is a common reason people choose this species and can increase daytime activity near the burrow.
Why does it keep rearranging sand (and burying things)?
Burrow maintenance often means pushing sand into small piles; placing frags on stable rock and keeping loose items away from the burrow zone helps.
Can I keep two together?
It’s usually simplest to keep one per tank unless you have a confirmed pair and enough space for them to claim a shared burrow area without competition.
Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.
