Care
The Saffron Coral Goby is a fascinating and comical little fish that in the wild is closely associated with colonies of broadly branching Acropora spp. corals. This brightly coloured fish is of a peaceful nature and makes a wonderful addition to mature reef aquaria containing colonies of SPS corals; these fish very much enjoy swimming and hiding amongst such polyps. Although often recommended for nano aquaria because of its diminutive size, caution should be exercised for two reasons. Firstly, smaller tanks will limit the number of individuals you can keep together; only one specimen is recommended in small nano type tanks, otherwise there will be constant arguments over territory which could result in the untimely demise of the weaker individual. Secondly, the more space available in a reef setting, the chances are that there will be much larger, stable colonies of suitable SPS corals available, and so it is less likely that these fish will damage any one individual beyond repair as they go about their daily routines (hiding/resting amongst the branches, and feeding on the occasional mucous polyp). If these types of corals are not being cultivated in your aquarium, invest in several coral skeletons so that these fish have something natural to interact with and give them a sense of security. Saffron Coral Gobies may be kept in groups (but only in larger quarters where there is an abundance of hiding places/territories), and oftentimes these fish will pair up and spawn. With regards to tankmates, these should all be small, non-aggressive feeders. These gobies actually produce a toxic body slime that deters many species from trying to consume them. Having said that, obviously do not house these fish with large carnivores. May also be seen on sale as the Citron Goby.
Feeding
Will consume a wide range of meaty fare including Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, finely chopped krill/prawns etc. Feed small amounts 3 times per day, target feeding if necessary.
Breeding
It is fairly common for the Saffron Coral Goby to spawn in the home aquarium. However, raising the young is extremely challenging. These fish tend to strip a small area of coral polyps in order to create a place to deposit the eggs, although other sites are not unheard of. The male fish will dance/quiver in front of the female and when she is ready to spawn, she will deposit her eggs on the coral branch, and these are immediately fertilised and subsequently guarded by the male. The eggs are very small (less than 1mm in diameter) and can number several hundred. The presence of the eggs on the coral may cause a small amount of tissue recession in that area, but this should recover quickly once the eggs have hatched (4-5 days, dependent on water temperature). The larvae are miniscule and require appropriately sized foodstuffs such as cultured rotifers and copepods.
