Amblyeleotris yanoi – Flagtail Shrimp Goby

Amblyeleotris yanoi – Flagtail Shrimp Goby

The species Amblyeleotris yanoi was first described by Yoshimasa Aonuma and Tetsuo Yoshino in 1996. This fish belongs to the family Gobiidae, which is known as the Gobies. The family Gobiidae consists of about 250 genera, including the genus Amblyeleotris, which contains about 38 officially described species. Their common name is Flagtail Shrimp Goby.

The genus name Amblyeleotris is derived from the Greek ‘amblys’ meaning ‘dark’ and ‘eleotris’, a name for a fish from the Nile. The species is named after K. Yano, who collected the type specimens.

Description

General description:
Amblyeleotris yanoi has an elongated and slender body with a whitish body color and five light orange-brown diffuse bands. The dorsal side has brown saddle-shaped markings between the dark bands. The caudal fin is yellow with a red-orange central area and oblique blue bands. The pelvic fins are connected by a membrane. The fish can reach a maximum length of 13 centimeters.

Differences between males and females:
There are no specific physical differences between males and females described in the available sources. Behavioral differences are also not documented.

Behavior and temperament:
Amblyeleotris yanoi is a territorial fish that can be aggressive towards conspecifics. They often live in symbiosis with the Alpheus pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli) and inhabit coastal sand slopes and deep lagoons at depths of 3-35 meters. They are bottom dwellers and can be shy, especially in new surroundings.

Symbiosis between Amblyeleotris yanoi and Alpheus randalli

Amblyeleotris yanoi, also known as the Flagtail Shrimp Goby, lives in a fascinating symbiotic relationship with the Alpheus Pistol Shrimp, Alpheus randalli. This symbiosis is a classic example of mutualism, where both species benefit from each other’s presence.

Benefits for Amblyeleotris yanoi

1. Protection and Hiding Place:
   The pistol shrimp digs and maintains an extensive network of tunnels and burrows in the sandy bottom, which serve as shelter for both the shrimp and the goby. These burrows provide the Amblyeleotris yanoi with protection from predators and a safe place to rest and hide.
2. Warning system:
   The Amblyeleotris yanoi acts as a warning system for the pistol shrimp. The goby has a sharp sense of sight and constantly monitors its surroundings. In case of danger, the goby warns the shrimp by means of specific movements, such as quickly retreating into the hole, which also alerts the shrimp and retreats.

Benefits for Alpheus randalli

1. Protection:
   The pistol shrimp benefits from the sharp eyes of the goby. While the shrimp is busy digging and maintaining the tunnels, the goby keeps an eye on the surroundings. This warning system allows the shrimp to quickly retreat when danger approaches, which greatly increases the shrimp’s chances of survival.
2. Living Together:
   The symbiosis ensures that both species have a safe living environment. The shrimp provides a well-maintained burrow, while the goby protects the shrimp from predators. This mutual benefit ensures a stable and long-lasting relationship between the two species.

Behavior and Interaction

The interaction between Amblyeleotris yanoi and Alpheus randalli is precise and well coordinated. The goby usually stays at the entrance of the burrow and keeps an eye on the surroundings, while the shrimp is busy digging and maintaining the tunnels. When danger approaches, the goby quickly retreats into the burrow, which is a signal for the shrimp to do the same.

This symbiotic relationship is not only fascinating to observe, but also an important aspect of the ecosystem they live in. It highlights the complexity and interdependence of different species in marine environments.

Biotope

Amblyeleotris yanoi is found in the western Pacific Ocean, from the Ryukyu Islands to Papua New Guinea. They live in coastal sand slopes, among coral reefs and in deep lagoons. Their natural habitat consists of sandy bottoms with scattered coral and rock formations.

Natural enemies:
No specific natural enemies have been documented for this species. They live in symbiosis with pistol shrimp, which offers them some protection.

Diet

In the wild:
Amblyeleotris yanoi feeds mainly on small crustaceans such as krill and mysis.

In the aquarium:
In the aquarium they can be fed with small crustaceans such as krill, mysis, artemia, as well as flake food and frozen food.

Reefsafe:
Amblyeleotris yanoi is reefsafe and does not eat coral, polyps or shrimp.

The Aquarium

Aquarium Size:
The minimum volume for keeping Amblyeleotris yanoi is 100 liters, but a larger aquarium of at least 200 liters is recommended for multiple specimens.

Decoration:
The aquarium should be set up with sand as a substrate and sufficient hiding places such as rocks and coral formations. This provides the fish with a natural environment and helps to reduce stress.

Water parameters:
The ideal water temperature is between 27°C and 29°C. It is important to maintain stable water parameters to prevent stress and diseases.

Introduction to the aquarium:
Introducing this species into a well-matured aquarium with sufficient algae and microorganisms is best.

Compatibility:
Amblyeleotris yanoi can live well with other peaceful reef fish such as clownfish, surgeonfish and other small gobies. However, they should not be kept with aggressive or territorial species.

Breeding Amblyeleotris yanoi

There are no specific data available on breeding Amblyeleotris yanoi in an aquarium.

Particularities

Amblyeleotris yanoi lives in symbiosis with the red banded pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli), which provides an interesting interaction in the aquarium. This symbiosis helps to create hiding places and offers protection from predators.

Conclusion

Amblyeleotris yanoi is an interesting and colorful fish that is suitable for advanced aquarists. They are reef safe and can live well with other peaceful reef fish. It is important to provide a well-equipped aquarium with sufficient hiding places and stable water quality. Although little is known about their captive breeding, their symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimps makes for a fascinating spectacle in the aquarium.

Video

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Doug Anderson
Klaus Stiefel – PacificKlaus
Francois Libert (Zsispeo) – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0