Randall's Goby
Randall's Goby
Goes well with:
FAQs Answers to the most common questions.
How deep should the sand bed be for a Randall’s Prawn Goby, and what grain size is best if I want it to pair with a pistol shrimp?
Aim for a 2–3 inch sand bed using mostly fine aragonite (0.5–1 mm) with some larger grains mixed in. Fine sand allows a pistol shrimp (such as Alpheus randalli or A. bellulus) to dig stable burrows, while a bit of coarser material (1–2 mm) helps prevent cave collapse. Avoid very coarse crushed coral as it’s hard for the shrimp to move and can cause unstable tunnels.
My Randall’s Prawn Goby spends most of the day hidden in its burrow and only peeks out. Is this normal, and what can I change in the aquascape to make it more visible?
This behavior is normal, especially in bright or busy tanks. To encourage more visible activity, build rockwork that forms “overhangs” and caves right against the front glass, then slope sand up against these structures so the shrimp can place burrow entrances where you can see them. Provide several burrow “starter” spots (small rock piles on the sand) in open areas. Keeping lighting slightly dimmer and maintaining a peaceful tank with few boisterous fish will also help the goby feel secure enough to sit farther out of the burrow.
Can Randall’s Prawn Gobies be kept in groups or pairs, and how can I increase the chance of forming a compatible pair in a home aquarium?
In small tanks, keep a single individual; in larger systems (4 feet or longer with many burrow sites), you may keep a pair, but random groups tend to fight. The species is not easy to sex by eye, so pairing is trial and error. The safest approach is to introduce 3–4 small juveniles at once into a larger, rock-filled tank, then let a pair form naturally and remove any individuals that are being chased or excluded from burrows. Introduce all gobies at the same time to reduce territorial disputes, and provide multiple separated sand zones so subdominant fish can settle elsewhere until you identify a stable pair.
My Randall’s Prawn Goby is eating, but its belly looks pinched and it’s getting thinner. What specific feeding strategy and foods work best for this species?
Feed small, frequent meals—2 to 3 times per day—directly near its burrow, because this fish is a cautious feeder. Use a turkey baster or feeding pipette to deliver finely chopped meaty foods like mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped clam or shrimp, and high-quality nano pellets that sink slowly. Soak foods in a vitamin supplement occasionally to support health. If tankmates are fast feeders, distract them with food at one side of the tank while you target-feed the goby at its burrow entrance so it gets its share.
Will a Randall’s Prawn Goby jump out of the tank, and are there specific conditions that make jumping more likely for this species?
Randall’s Prawn Gobies are capable jumpers, especially when newly introduced, startled at night, or chased by tankmates. Any gap in the lid, overflow, or back section of the tank can be an escape route. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen with openings no larger than about 1/4 inch is essential. Jump risk is highest during the first couple of weeks, so dim the lights when introducing the fish, avoid sudden movements near the tank, and ensure it has burrow options in quieter areas of the aquascape so it feels secure and is less likely to bolt upward when spooked.
All listed sizes are approximate, not guaranteed, and may vary slightly.
Randall’s Goby (Amblyeleotris randalli), also known as Randall’s Prawn Goby or Randall’s Shrimp Goby, is a distinctive saltwater fish featuring a pearly white body crossed by narrow orange bands and a prominent black marking on its tall, fan-shaped first dorsal fin. Its bold patterning, watchful behavior, and fascinating relationship with burrowing pistol shrimp make it an especially engaging addition to a reef aquarium.
Native to the western Pacific, this species ranges from the Moluccas and Solomon Islands north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the northern Great Barrier Reef, with populations also occurring around Palau. Randall’s Gobies naturally inhabit clear reef environments with sand, rubble, and small caves where they maintain burrows in association with snapping shrimp.
Peaceful toward most marine aquarium fish and generally easy to maintain once established, Randall’s Goby is an excellent choice for reef and peaceful fish-only aquariums. Its relatively sedentary lifestyle allows it to thrive without enormous swimming space, but a suitable sand bed, secure rockwork, and protected territory are important for long-term care.
Quick Care Guide
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Western Pacific – Moluccas to Solomon Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Palau, and northern Great Barrier Reef
Scientific Name: Amblyeleotris randalli
Tank Requirements
Provide a mature marine aquarium with a sandy substrate and areas of small rubble around stable rockwork. Randall’s Goby naturally lives close to the bottom and benefits from caves, crevices, and protected areas where it can establish a burrow.
A substrate containing fine to moderately sized sand is ideal, particularly when the goby is maintained with a compatible pistol shrimp. Small pieces of coral rubble or shell fragments can provide useful building material for the shrimp as it maintains the shared burrow.
Rockwork should be positioned securely on the aquarium bottom rather than resting loosely on shifting sand. Burrowing activity can undermine unstable structures, so careful aquascaping is important.
Moderate water movement is appropriate, although excessively strong flow directly across the goby’s territory should be avoided. A secure mesh screen or aquarium lid is also recommended, as gobies may jump when startled or newly introduced.
Diet and Feeding
Randall’s Goby is a carnivore that naturally consumes small crustaceans, zooplankton, and other appropriately sized animal foods around its reef habitat.
In captivity, offer enriched mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped shrimp, frozen plankton blends, and other small meaty marine foods. Appropriately sized high-quality sinking pellets can also be incorporated once the fish readily accepts prepared diets.
Feed one to two times daily. Because this species often remains close to its burrow, make sure food reaches the bottom of the aquarium rather than being consumed entirely by faster midwater tankmates. Target feeding can be helpful in heavily stocked systems.
Temperament and Tankmates
Randall’s Goby is generally peaceful and compatible with a wide variety of reef-safe community fish. Suitable tankmates include clownfish, cardinalfish, firefish, peaceful wrasses, blennies, assessors, and other non-predatory marine species.
It may become territorial toward other shrimp gobies or similarly shaped bottom-dwelling fish, particularly if they compete for the same burrow or limited bottom territory. Providing multiple caves and sufficient separation can reduce these interactions.
A single specimen works well in most aquariums. Randall’s Goby can also develop a symbiotic partnership with an appropriate pistol shrimp. The shrimp excavates and maintains the burrow while the goby remains near the entrance and watches for potential danger, creating one of the most interesting natural partnerships available to reef aquarium keepers.
Reef Compatibility
Randall’s Goby is considered reef safe and does not normally consume or damage corals, clams, or other sessile reef organisms.
It is generally compatible with established ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and other common reef invertebrates. Tiny crustaceans and copepods may be consumed naturally, but larger ornamental invertebrates are not normally targeted.
Its excellent coral compatibility and bottom-oriented lifestyle make it particularly well suited to mixed reef aquariums.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water with consistently good water quality. Stability is more important than targeting one exact value within these ranges, and sudden changes in temperature or salinity should be avoided.
Common Considerations
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Shrimp partnership: Can form a fascinating symbiotic relationship with a compatible burrowing pistol shrimp.
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Adult size: Can reach approximately 4.5–5 inches and should be provided with adequate bottom territory and shelter.
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Burrowing setup: A sand substrate with small rubble pieces and securely positioned rockwork is ideal.
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Territorial behavior: Generally peaceful but may defend its burrow from other shrimp gobies or similar bottom-dwelling fish.
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Jumping risk: A securely fitted mesh screen or aquarium lid is recommended, particularly during acclimation.
