Yellow Watchman Goby – Cryptocentrus cinctus

Quarantine and Conditioning Started on 10/2 - Release Date: 10/23
If you wish to purchase this fish before the release date we will hold the fish for you. Let us know your desired ship date. If there is an issue during the Quarantine process, we will issue a refund.

The Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus), also known as the Yellow Prawn-Goby or Yellow Shrimp-Goby, is a small Western Pacific reef goby known for its bright golden-yellow coloration, alert personality and fascinating natural association with burrowing snapping shrimps.

The species occurs in two naturally documented color forms: a yellow phase and a paler whitish phase. Both can exhibit faint darker bars along with fine pale blue or white spotting on the head, forward portion of the body and fins. The specimen pictured here displays the brilliant yellow form with numerous small pale blue-white spots. FishBase

Cryptocentrus cinctus is native to the Western Pacific, with a documented distribution extending from the Yaeyama Islands of Japan south through Southeast Asia to the southern Great Barrier Reef, with populations also recorded in Micronesia. Indonesia is within its documented distribution, although I have not assigned Indonesia as the origin of this particular specimen because your supplied product information doesn't specify collection location. FishBase

In nature, Yellow Watchman Gobies inhabit sandy areas of shallow lagoons and protected coastal bays, particularly clear coastal sand slopes. FishBase documents the species from approximately 1–25 meters (3–82 feet), with many observations between 10 and 25 meters. FishBase

One of the most interesting characteristics of this species is its relationship with alpheid snapping shrimps. FishBase specifically documents C. cinctus living in burrows with alpheid shrimp. Recent behavioral research on C. cinctus and the tiger snapping shrimp Alpheus bellulus further documents this mutualism: the shrimp constructs and maintains the burrow while the goby helps alert its partner to approaching predators. FishBase

FishBase records a maximum size of 10 cm standard length, approximately 3.9 inches, making this a relatively small goby well suited to reef aquariums with appropriate sandy substrate and shelter. FishBase

This specimen is offered as one of Dr. Mac's Quarantined and Conditioned Fish.

Care Guide

Scientific Name: Cryptocentrus cinctus (Herre, 1936)
Common Name: Yellow Watchman Goby
Other Common Names: Yellow Prawn-Goby, Yellow Shrimp-Goby
Family: Gobiidae
Availability: Conditioned & Quarantined
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful; may be territorial around its burrow
Reef Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons recommended
Maximum Size: Approximately 3.9 inches / 10 cm SL FishBase
Diet: Carnivorous/omnivorous marine diet with appropriately sized meaty foods
Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.023–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4

Aquarium Requirements: Provide a mature aquarium with a sand substrate, rockwork and protected areas suitable for burrowing. Because this species naturally inhabits sandy lagoons and coastal bays and lives in burrows, an aquarium that provides a suitable bottom habitat is preferable to a bare-bottom environment. FishBase

Shrimp Partnership: A pistol/snapping shrimp is not required to keep a Yellow Watchman Goby successfully, but providing a compatible alpheid shrimp can allow the fish to exhibit its natural shrimp-goby partnership. The association between C. cinctus and alpheid shrimp is scientifically documented. FishBase

Diet and Feeding: Offer appropriately sized foods such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped marine foods and nutritionally complete sinking marine preparations. Feed so that food reaches the lower portion of the aquarium where the goby spends most of its time.

Temperament: Generally peaceful toward unrelated community fishes but capable of defending its burrow area, particularly against similar gobies or other fishes attempting to occupy the same shelter.

Reef Compatibility: Reef compatible. Its natural ecology centers on sandy reef habitats and burrows rather than feeding upon corals.

Secure Cover: A secure aquarium lid is recommended, particularly during introduction and acclimation.

Natural Habitat: Sandy areas of shallow lagoons, protected coastal bays and clear coastal sand slopes at approximately 1–25 meters, commonly 10–25 meters.