Will Hector's Goby eat hair algae in my reef tank?

Yes, they are highly regarded for their appetite for filamentous hair algae, making them excellent natural cleaners for minor algae outbreaks.

Does Hector's Goby sift sand?

They perform light sand sifting, taking up small mouthfuls of the top layer to extract microscopic crustaceans. However, they are not heavy sifters like sleeper gobies and will not make a mess of your substrate.

Can I keep more than one Hector's Goby together?

Unless you have a very large aquarium or a guaranteed male-female bonded pair, it is not recommended. They are highly territorial towards their own kind and closely related species.

Are they safe with corals and cleaner shrimp?

Absolutely. Hector's Goby is entirely reef-safe and will ignore all corals, ornamental shrimp, and clean-up crew invertebrates.

Why is my Hector's Goby losing weight?

They require a mature tank with established microfauna and algae to supplement their diet. In newer tanks, they can easily starve if they are not accepting enough prepared meaty and spirulina-based foods.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Hector's Goby

Koumansetta hectori

A striking, torpedo-shaped marine fish known for its bold yellow stripes and beneficial algae-grazing habits.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.021 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 5 – 8.5 cm
Minimum 100 litres for a mature system with sufficient grazing: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
Diet: Omnivore
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Live rock with a sandy substrate and ample hiding spaces.

About the Hector's Goby

Hector's Goby is a beautiful, torpedo-shaped marine fish known for its striking bright yellow stripes set against a dark blue-black background. Unlike many typical bottom-dwelling gobies, this species frequently hovers just an inch or two above the substrate or coral reef. They are highly prized by marine aquarists not only for their distinctive appearance but also for their utility, as they actively graze on nuisance filamentous algae. Mild-mannered and engaging, they make an excellent addition to peaceful, mature reef aquariums.

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Where Hector's Goby comes from

Native range

Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea

Countries / regions

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Maldives, Indonesia

Habitat

Shallow coastal bays, lagoons, and outer reef slopes amongst coral rubble and sand patches.

Widespread across the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea to the western edges of the Pacific.

Similar species

Rainford's Goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
Court Jester Goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
Two Spot Goby
Signigobius biocellatus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful surface or mid-water dwellers that will not compete with the goby for grazing territory.
Great
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Hector's Goby is completely reef-safe and poses no threat to ornamental shrimps.
Great
Rainford's Goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
Closely related congeners will often fight over territory and food resources in smaller aquariums.
Compatible with caution
Sixline Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Can be highly competitive for microfauna (copepods) and may aggressively bully the docile goby.
Compatible with caution
Picasso Triggerfish
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Large, aggressive predators that will view the small goby as a food source or territorial intruder.
Not recommended

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