Flaming Prawn Goby
Discordipinna griessingeri
Spikefin gobies are distinguished by their vibrant, elongated dorsal fin and a body patterned with shades of brown and cream, often with dark spots.
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About the Flaming Prawn Goby
This tiny reef goby flashes long orange fins as it shuffles between rock crevices, so you usually spot it in quick cameos. At barely 3 cm long, its crisp white-and-orange striping and spiky fin displays look wild for such a small fish.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
3 cm
Temperament
Peaceful
Difficulty
Advanced
Min Tank Size
10 gallons
Lifespan
2-4 years
Origin
Indo-Pacific
Diet
Carnivore - tiny live/frozen foods such as copepods, rotifers, calanus, enriched baby brine; very small meaty items when accepted
Water Parameters
22.2-25.6°C
8.1-8.4
Need a heater for this species?
This species needs 22.2-25.6°C in a 10 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- A 10-gallon marine tank suits this nano goby; use a tight lid, and cover overflows or powerhead intakes with fine mesh so a 3 cm fish does not get drawn in or escape.
- Build plenty of small rock crevices and shaded pockets; this species spends most of its time ducking between holes and giving quick fin-flash cameos.
- Keep water in the reef range of 22.2-25.6 C and pH 8.1-8.4, and avoid rapid swings.
- Offer tiny live or frozen foods - copepods, rotifers, calanus, and enriched baby brine; once settled it may take very small meaty items.
- Target-feed near its hideout with a pipette and give multiple small feedings so food reaches it before faster fish do.
- Choose peaceful, small tankmates; boisterous or large-mouthed species can outcompete or eat a fish this size.
- A pod-rich system helps sustain this micro-carnivore between feedings, which is especially helpful in a nano reef.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Very small, peaceful nano gobies that keep to the rockwork (Trimma, Eviota, small Gobiodon) - similar size and temperament, unlikely to intimidate or outcompete
- Neon or cleaner gobies (Elacatinus spp.) - tiny, calm, and generally ignore this species
- Single firefish or other calm dartfish (Nemateleotris spp.) with a covered tank and targeted feeding so the goby gets its tiny foods
- Tailspot blenny and other very small, gentle Ecsenius blennies - peaceful algae grazers that do not compete for micro foods
- Peaceful ornamental shrimp and tiny clean-up crew: cleaner or peppermint shrimp, sexy shrimp, small snails, and micro hermits
- Small, non-aggressive porcelain crabs and other stationary filter feeders that will not bother a cryptic nano goby
Avoid
- Boisterous or territorial fish in nanos (damsels, dottybacks, adult clownfish) that can bully or outcompete a 3 cm shy goby
- Pod and plankton hunters that outcompete or may harass (sixline wrasses and other Pseudocheilinus, fast wrasses, anthias)
- Predatory perchers that may eat a tiny goby (hawkfish)
- Large or aggressive crustaceans and crabs (coral banded shrimp, big hermits, predatory crabs, mantis shrimp)
The Flaming Prawn Goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) is a tiny Indo-Pacific reef fish that stays around 3 cm. You usually see it in quick cameos as it shuffles between rock crevices, flashing long orange fins over crisp white-and-orange striping. It is peaceful but delicate, with advanced care needs centered on feeding very small meaty foods and keeping it from being outcompeted.
Origin and natural habitat
Indo-Pacific. In the wild this species keeps close to hard structure, moving between holes and narrow cracks in reef rock. Its cryptic, peek-and-dash routine is normal behavior rather than shyness from captivity.
Aquarium setup and water conditions
A single Flaming Prawn Goby can be kept in a nano aquarium of at least 10 US gallons. The key is a maze of tight nooks and micro-caves within secure, stable rockwork so the fish can perch and retreat. Provide several small bolt-holes, as it will rarely linger in the open.
- Temperature: 22.2-25.6 C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Water type: marine
Let the tank mature so it develops a steady population of tiny crustaceans before adding this fish. It does best in calm setups with limited competition at feeding time.
Diet and feeding
This goby is a true micro-carnivore with a very small mouth. Many individuals begin by taking only tiny live foods, with frozen accepted later as they settle in.
- Primary foods: copepods, rotifers, calanus, enriched baby brine
- Also accepted by some: very small meaty items (minced) once recognized as food
Target feed near its hideouts using a pipette or feeding tube so food reaches the fish before tankmates. Offer multiple small feedings and watch closely to confirm it is actually swallowing food rather than just investigating.
Starvation is the main risk. If it is placed with faster, bolder feeders, this species often fails to get enough to eat.
Behaviour and tankmates
Peaceful and reclusive. It spends most of its time perched within rockwork, making short dashes and fin displays before ducking back into cover. Expect it to be seen in brief bursts rather than constantly in view.
- Good companions: small, calm fish that do not compete aggressively for tiny foods; non-predatory invertebrates
- Avoid: large or boisterous species and anything likely to view a 3 cm fish as a snack
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Feeding difficulty: Start with tiny live foods and target feeding; build a pod population in the tank.
- Being outcompeted: Choose gentle tankmates and feed in a way that delivers food right to the fish.
- Stress from sparse aquascaping: Provide many tight crevices so it can retreat and feel secure.
- Short lifespan expectations: Typical lifespan is about 2-4 years under good care.
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