False Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

The False Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) is a sunny, bright-yellow shrimp goby that perches at the mouth of its burrow keeping watch over the tank. Hardy, reef safe, and full of personality, it is famous for forming a symbiotic partnership with a pistol shrimp, the shrimp digs the burrow while the goby stands guard. Pair it with the rest of our saltwater livestock selection.

Care Guide

• Aquarium: 20 gallons or larger with a deep sand bed of 2 inches or more. The goby (and its shrimp partner) needs soft sand or fine gravel to dig and maintain a burrow.
• Pairs with a pistol shrimp: Not required, but a pistol shrimp makes a fascinating tankmate. The two share a burrow, the shrimp digging while the goby watches for danger.
• Water quality: Keep parameters stable. Target 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025, and dKH 8 to 12.
• Diet: Carnivore. Offer mysis, brine shrimp, and marine flake 1 to 2 times a day.
• Secure lid: Watchman gobies are skittish and can jump, so a tightly fitting lid is strongly recommended.

Specifications

Tank Mates & Compatibility

The False Yellow Watchman Goby is peaceful toward other species and reef safe with corals and most invertebrates. Its star pairing is a pistol shrimp, but it also mixes well with calm community fish. Good companions we carry include:

• Curly-Que Pistol Shrimp (its natural burrow partner)
• Wyoming White Clownfish
• Blue Green Chromis
• Banggai Cardinal

Keep just one watchman goby per tank unless you have a mated pair, as they can be territorial toward their own kind and similar shrimp gobies.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Curly-Que Pistol Shrimp to complete the classic goby-shrimp pairing
• Freeze-Dried Mysis Shrimp for protein and color
• Ocean Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus Flake for daily staple feeding
• Browse all marine fish nutrition

FAQ

Does it need a pistol shrimp?
No, the goby is perfectly happy on its own. But pairing it with a pistol shrimp creates one of the most fascinating symbiotic relationships in the hobby and is highly recommended.

Is it reef safe?
Yes. It will not eat corals or invertebrates, though it may shift sand or nudge corals placed directly on the sand bed while digging its burrow.

Is it good for beginners?
Yes. It is hardy, eats readily, and stays small, making it an excellent first shrimp goby for an established saltwater tank.

What does it eat?
A carnivore diet of mysis, brine shrimp, and marine flake. Feed small amounts 1 to 2 times a day.