Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) are beautiful saltwater fish with red, yellow, and white vertical stripes throughout their bodies. They are also covered in small blue dots throughout. Wheeler’s Gobies have a similar shape to Yellow Watchman Gobies but have very different color patterns and don’t get as large. They are fantastic sand-sifting fish that grow to 3 inches at their max. This guide will cover the aquarium needs, dietary requirements, compatible tank mates, and breeding habits of Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby.
Aquarium Requirements
Gobies usually pick a small spot to camp out in an aquarium and call it their territory. You’ll usually see them build their burrow at the base of live rock. It’s usually fairly easy to identify their territory because the sand around their burrow is often spotless and free of debris and detritus. Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies should be provided with a variety of live rock and marine sand that is not too coarse or too fine. Sand depths can range between 1 and 3 inches. Caribsea – Fiji Pink Live Reef Sand is a great option for most sand-sifting fish.
Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies are a great addition to a 10-gallon saltwater aquarium because they do not get very large. I suggest adding them to a well-established saltwater fish tank so the population of microorganisms can establish themselves in the sandbed. These microorganisms are a large part of a goby’s diet. Also, a well-fitted lid is highly suggested because gobies are notorious for getting startled and jumping out of aquariums.
Are Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies Reef Safe?
Yes, Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies are reef-safe. They do not bother invertebrates and coral in aquariums. They may go so far as to have a symbiotic relationship with Pistol Shrimp if one is added to the fish tank. However, corals on the sandbed may disappear overtime because the goby may cover it with sand or the Shrimp will use it for the burrow.
Water Parameters
Keeping stable water parameters is a great practice for most fish tanks. This is especially true for expensive saltwater aquariums where swinging water parameters can harm the fish and coral. Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies have similar water parameter needs to most saltwater fish.
They should be kept in temperatures between 72° and 78°F, but I suggest keeping them around 76° and 78°F. The dKH level of your fish tank should float between 8 and 12. The pH of your saltwater aquarium should sit around 8.1 and 8.4. Lastly, the salinity in your fish tank should range between 1.020 and 1.025 sg. If you’re looking for different tools to check your salinity level, look at Different Salinity Reading Tools For Saltwater Fish Tanks.
Food & Diet
Feeding gobies can sometimes be a challenge. They’re easily startled and outcompeted for food or refuse to eat anything besides the live critters in the sandbed. This is why adding them to an established aquarium is recommended. If they get outcompeted for food or refuse to eat processed food, they can at least consume the established population of microorganisms available in the aquarium.
Consider checking out 4 Tricks To Feed Stubborn Gobies & Jawfish if you have a goby that can’t get food due to other fish being food aggressive or your goby refuses to eat anything besides live foods. Hopefully trying the techniques discussed in the article will get your fish eating.
If your goby is not a picky eater, it should readily accept just about any food offered. You may see your Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby dart out of its burrow to grab some food that’s floating in the water column. It’ll consume anything from pellet food, Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and many other foods.
Tank Mates
This fish species should do quite well with most other peaceful fish. I have kept them with Anthias, Basslets, Blennies, Chromis, Clownfish, Damsels, Dwarf Angels, Dottybacks, Wrasses, and many other small fish. Most fish do not use the same space in the aquarium, which makes finding compatible tank mates for the Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby easy. I would be cautious if you decide to add more than one goby into the aquarium. There may be territorial disputes if you do not have enough territory for each specimen.
The Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby should not have any issue in an aquarium with larger, non-predatory fish as well. They should have no problems being kept with Butterflyfish, Foxface/Rabbitfish, and Tangs/Surgeonfish. I would be very cautious and even avoid keeping them with aggressive and predatory fish. Your goby may become food for these types of fish.
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby and Pistol Shrimp
Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies will pair up and form a symbiotic relationship with Pistol Shrimp. There are a few different types of Pistol Shrimp and it seems many aquarists prefer the Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp as a “roommate” for their goby. However, other species of Pistol Shrimp should do just fine with this goby. I have seen Gobies and Pistol Shrimp pair up almost instantly when introduced into a fish tank.
Breeding
I do not have information on how to breed this fish species. Although rare, I have heard of aquarists keeping pairs of Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies in aquariums, but have never experienced it myself.
Final Notes
Wheeler’s Shrimp Gobies are a great option for saltwater aquariums and will do a great job sifting through your sandbed. They have a similar appearance to Watchman Gobies but have a more striking coloration. They add a whole new level of excitement when they’re paired up with a Pistol Shrimp. If you’re looking for a goby for your marine aquarium, consider the Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby.
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