Name: Flaming Prawn Goby - Discordipinna griessingeri
Brand: TSA Fish
SKU: GOBYxGreis
Price: 119.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Flaming Prawn Goby - Discordipinna griessingeri

$119.99

Flaming Prawn Goby - Discordipinna griessingeri

Goby Reef Safe

$119.99

SKU: GOBYxGreis

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Diet

algae spirulina mysis shrimp brine shrimp

Min Tank Size 30 gallons

Temperament Peaceful

Reef Safe Yes

Care & Diet Feeding, nutrition, and best practices.

Diet Type: Omnivore

Diet and Feeding: The Flaming Prawn Goby is best treated as a small carnivore with omnivorous tendencies, feeding in nature on tiny benthic crustaceans, zooplankton, and other microfauna sifted from sand and rubble. In captivity, it is beneficial to make the bulk of the diet high-quality meaty staples such as finely chopped mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, marine plankton blends, and small sinking carnivore pellets or frozen preparations designed for gobies and reef fish. To ensure balanced nutrition, offer supplemental variety with occasional bloodworms, finely minced seafood, and vitamin- or HUFA-enriched frozen foods, while using treats sparingly to avoid reliance on one item. Feeding with a turkey baster or target feeder near the substrate encourages natural foraging, and small portions fed once to twice daily are ideal; it is important to prevent overfeeding, as this species benefits from frequent, modest meals rather than heavy feedings.

algae spirulina mysis shrimp brine shrimp

Behavior Temperament, activity level, and interactions.

Temperament: Peaceful

The Flaming Prawn Goby is a small, sand-associated bottom-dweller that spends much of its time hovering low over the substrate and darting back to a burrow or shelter when startled, so it does best in a tank with a deep sandbed and ample hiding spots. It is generally peaceful, but males and conspecifics can be territorial, especially in smaller aquaria or when suitable burrow sites are limited. A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended, with a layout that includes rockwork, visual barriers, and open sand areas to reduce line-of-sight conflicts and encourage natural burrowing behavior. In a reef-safe community, it usually coexists well with other non-aggressive species, though boisterous tank mates and persistent predators may stress or outcompete it for food and shelter. Its diet is omnivorous with a strong carnivorous lean, feeding primarily on small benthic crustaceans, zooplankton, and meaty prepared foods, and it should be offered frequent small meals to support its active foraging and hunting behavior.

Tank & Aquascape Tank requirements and aquascaping tips.

Min Tank Size: 30 gallons
Max Size: 3 inches
Care Level: Easy
Origin: Indo-Pacific

Compatibility Tank mates, aggression, and introduction order.

Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: Yes

Reef & Health Reef safety, common issues, and prevention.

Reef Safe: Yes
Care Level: Easy

FAQs Answers to the most common questions.

Will a Flaming Prawn Goby actually live with a pistol shrimp, and if so which shrimp species are the best partners?

Yes, if it’s a true shrimp-goby type from the Stonogobiops/related “prawn goby” group, it will usually pair best with a small Alpheus pistol shrimp, especially peaceful burrow builders like Alpheus randalli. The goby and shrimp should be introduced into a mature sandbed so the shrimp can immediately start digging and the goby can claim the burrow. Not every individual pairs, but the best success comes when the shrimp is already established and the goby is healthy, alert, and willing to hover close to the substrate. Avoid large or aggressive pistol shrimp species that can bulldoze the goby or destabilize the burrow.

How much sand depth does a Flaming Prawn Goby need to maintain a proper burrow?

A minimum of about 2–3 inches of fine sand is ideal, with deeper areas even better if the tank allows it. The substrate should be fine enough for burrow construction but stable enough that tunnels don’t constantly collapse. Coarse crushed coral or very sharp sand makes burrow maintenance difficult. These gobies depend on a secure burrow entrance, so rockwork should sit firmly on the bottom glass before sand is added to prevent collapses from undermining the structure.

Will a Flaming Prawn Goby jump, and what kind of tank setup prevents losses?

Yes, absolutely—they are excellent jumpers, especially when startled, harassed, or when they’re still settling in. A tight-fitting lid is mandatory, not optional. Any gap around plumbing, feeding openings, or cable cutouts should be sealed. These gobies often live near burrow entrances and can launch straight up when spooked by tankmates, sudden movement, or a collapsing burrow. A covered tank with low stress and stable water flow dramatically reduces jump risk.

What should I feed a Flaming Prawn Goby, and how do I get a new one to eat in captivity?

They do best on small meaty foods: mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, copepod-rich frozen blends, and small sinking carnivore foods. New specimens often ignore larger pellets at first, so use small, moving foods and feed near the burrow entrance with a pipette or turkey baster. They are not strong grazers and usually won’t thrive on algae-based foods. Frequent small feedings work better than one large meal, especially during the acclimation period.

Is a Flaming Prawn Goby reef safe, and what tankmates commonly cause problems?

Yes, it is generally reef safe, but it is not always fish-community safe. It can be bullied by boisterous wrasses, dottybacks, hawkfishes, larger gobies, and aggressive damsels. Fast feeders may outcompete it at mealtime, while predatory fish can simply eat it. Best tankmates are calm, non-aggressive reef fish such as small clowns, firefish, cardinals, and peaceful blennies. Keep in mind that a stressed Flaming Prawn Goby will often stop hovering openly and may refuse food, so social pressure matters as much as water quality.

Goes well with:

Flaming Prawn Gobies (Discordipinna griessingeri) are tiny, cryptic reef fish known for their vibrant striping, elongated fins, and hovering behavior around caves and overhangs. Native to deeper reef environments throughout the Indo-Pacific, these gobies are rarely seen in the open and spend much of their time perched near rock crevices or darting between shaded hiding spots.

Despite their small size, Flaming Prawn Gobies are highly sought after for their unique appearance and peaceful nature. They are best suited for established nano and reef aquariums with calm tankmates and plenty of rockwork.

Care Requirements

Care Level: Moderate to Difficult – Sensitive feeder that requires a peaceful environment
Minimum Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Aquarium Setup: Mature reef aquarium with caves, overhangs, low aggression, and stable water quality

Flaming Prawn Gobies do best in aquariums with abundant rockwork and shaded areas where they can feel secure. They may remain hidden frequently, especially during acclimation.

Diet & Nutrition

Flaming Prawn Gobies are carnivorous micro-predators that feed on tiny meaty foods and zooplankton in the water column.

Diet: Carnivore – Feeds on small meaty foods and microfauna

Recommended Foods:

Copepods and live microfauna
Baby brine shrimp
Finely chopped mysis shrimp
Cyclops and other small frozen foods
Small pellet or prepared nano foods once acclimated

Frequent feeding is important due to their small size and fast metabolism. Newly imported individuals may initially rely on live foods before transitioning to frozen options.

Lifespan & Growth Rate

Lifespan: 2–4+ years
Growth Rate: Slow

With stable conditions and regular feeding, Flaming Prawn Gobies can adapt well to aquarium life and become more visible over time.

Temperament & Compatibility

Temperament: Peaceful – Extremely shy and non-aggressive
Reef Safe? Yes

Flaming Prawn Gobies are reef safe and compatible with corals and most peaceful nano reef inhabitants. They should not be housed with aggressive fish, fast feeders, or species that may outcompete them during feeding.

Good tankmates include small gobies, firefish, clownfish, and other peaceful nano species.

Avoid housing them with dottybacks, aggressive wrasses, hawkfish, larger basslets, or predatory fish.