Two Spot Goby (Signigobius Biocellatus)

Species Name : Signigobius Biocellatus

Care Level : Difficult

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Orange, Tan, White

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 3"

Origin : Indonesia, Vanuatu

Family : Gobiidae

Minimum Tank Size : 10 gallons

The Two Spot Goby (Signigobius Biocellatus)  is also referred to as the Twinspot Goby, Signal Goby, or Crabeye Goby.

Two Spot Goby has a torpedo-like body shape, high-set, bulbous eyes, a comically frowning mouth, and two prominent dorsal fins. In coloration, it’s grayish overall with orange-brown mottling. The head and body are white splattered with orange markings. Each dorsal fin features a large, distinct eyespot, and the pelvic and anal fins are black with blue dots. The maximum size of this goby is around 4 inches.

It should reside in a 10 gallon or larger aquarium with live sand as a substrate, and an attached populated refugium. They should only ever be added to a well-established reef tank, where there will be plenty of live rock and live substrate that supports their natural diet. There should be plenty of hiding places amongst the rockwork, with enough depth of fine substrate and small rubble pieces or shell fragments for the fish to construct a burrow.

Signigobius Biocellatus is a peaceful species, and any piscine tankmates should be equally passive as well as disinclined to compete for the same foods. It will rarely act aggressively towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair. This goby won’t intentionally harass corals and other sessile invertebrates, so it’s generally considered reef-safe. However, its sand-sifting activity may subject the tissues of any invertebrates situated on the substrate to regular “sandstorms.” 

Under correct conditions, the Two Spot Goby will spawn successfully in an aquarium.

This species thrives best when there is a sufficiently large amount of micro life (copepods, amphipods or similar) in the aquarium, so that the it can always find their own food. Ensure that food offered reaches the bottom of the tank, where the gobies will ingest it as they take in mouthfuls of substrate to sift. Usually the Signigobius Biocellatus feeds off the bottom sifting through the sand for food.  It will be hard for them to find enough food in a small aquarium, so one must feed them three times daily by squirting food into the sand. It should be fed a variety of either live or vitamin-enriched frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, and prepared foods for carnivores. 

Size: Small: 3/4" to 1-1/4" Medium: 1-1/4" to 2" Large: 2" to 3"