Gorgeous prawn-goby

Where they come from

Gorgeous prawn-gobies (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) are Indo-Pacific sand-dwellers that spend their lives posted up at the entrance of a burrow. In the wild they usually pair with an alpheid pistol shrimp, which does the digging while the goby plays lookout. That whole "tiny security guard" vibe is exactly what you see in a home tank too.

Setting up their tank

Think "sand, shelter, and calm." These guys are happiest on a sandy bottom with rubble they can use to reinforce a burrow entrance. They are not a fish you buy for a bare-bottom SPS raceway with 100x turnover blasting the substrate.

• Tank size: 20 gallons can work for a single, but 30+ feels way more relaxed (and gives you room for a shrimp partner).
• Substrate: fine sand is your friend. Aim for about 2-3 inches so a shrimp (if you add one) can actually build.
• Rubble: scatter small bits of coral rubble or small shells near where you want the burrow. They will drag pieces around like little contractors.
• Flow: moderate overall, but make at least one lower-flow sand zone so the burrow does not constantly collapse.
• Rockwork: stable rock on the glass, sand around it. You do not want a digging shrimp undermining a rock sitting on sand.

If you want the classic pair behavior, add a pistol shrimp. The common picks are Alpheus randalli or Alpheus bellulus. Sometimes they buddy up fast, sometimes it takes days, and sometimes they just ignore each other if the tank layout does not give them a good "home base" area.

What to feed them

They are easy to feed once they recognize your routine. The main trick is getting food down to the burrow entrance before faster fish vacuum it up. A shy Wheeler's will sit there watching food fly by like a kid pressed against a candy store window.

• Great staples: frozen mysis, finely chopped shrimp, brine (better as a treat), and quality marine pellets that sink.
• If they are new or picky: frozen copepods, small meaty foods like Calanus, and live brine can get them started.
• Feeding style: target feed with a turkey baster or pipette right near their spot.

How they behave and who they get along with

Wheeleri are peaceful little bottom sitters. Most of their "personality" is the burrow life: peeking out, shoveling sand, retreating when something startles them, then popping right back out. If paired with a pistol shrimp, you will see the goby hover at the entrance and flick its tail or body to signal danger. It is one of the coolest natural behaviors you can keep in a reef.

• Good tankmates: other peaceful reef fish (clownfish, small wrasses that are not bullies, cardinals, chromis, blennies that keep to rock).
• Use caution with: other bottom gobies that want the same real estate, especially other shrimp-goby species in smaller tanks.
• Avoid: aggressive dottybacks, big hawkfish, predatory wrasses, or anything that will harass the burrow entrance all day.

Breeding tips

They can spawn in captivity, usually in a bonded pair with a secure burrow. You might notice them getting a little more defensive around the entrance and doing extra "housekeeping". The eggs are laid in the burrow, and the male typically guards them.

Raising the larvae is the hard part. Like most marine fish, the babies go pelagic and need tiny live foods (rotifers, then copepods) and a dedicated rearing setup. If you just want to witness spawning behavior, focus on stability, good feeding, and a calm tank. If you want to actually raise them, plan on a separate project tank and a live food pipeline.

Common problems to watch for

• Jumping: the number one killer. Use a lid from day one, not after the first close call.
• Not eating in a community tank: they can get outcompeted. Target feed and keep boisterous eaters from hovering over the burrow.
• Burrow collapse or constant rearranging: usually from too much flow on the sand, not enough sand depth, or no rubble to reinforce walls.
• Shrimp undermining rockwork: always place rocks on the glass or on supports, not on sand.
• Shipping stress and parasites: watch for rapid breathing, flashing, frayed fins, or white spots. Quarantine if you can, and do not rush them into a high-stress display.