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Gobies
Gobies are very similar to gobies at first glance, mainly differing in their swimming patterns and which parts of the tank they prefer. While blennies stick to the rocks, gobies tend to take the sand. There are exceptions of course, and much more formal ways to separate the two groups, but that's for us to worry about.
Facial features tend to run strange in this list, with some appearing perpetually confused and slack-jawed, while others simply glare endlessly. On top of this, the unique patterning of each goby can lead to very interesting appearances. Some even have beards or mustaches!
They come in many shapes and sizes with an even wider variety of behavior. Because of this, they don't tend to have an easy rule of thumb for stocking. Depending on the species of goby, they may or may not be compatible with blennies or other gobies, or even others of their species.
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Gobies
Orange Diamond Goby
Minimum Tank Size:
Orange Diamond Gobies are the original sand-sifter, turning over the substrate in search of food. When not searching for leftovers, they will claim a hole and spend their time watching the world outside. Although they get large, they are generally peaceful and will not pick fights. They can sometimes be found picking up shells and rocks to decorate the edge of their hole - even if those shells are still inhabited.
Engineer Goby
Minimum Tank Size:
While young, engineer gobies will form small groups. However, they become aggressive with each other as they grow, so we recommend keeping only one. They will spend most of the day hidden in their hole, venturing out during quiet moments to search the sand for food. While not always the most visible of fish, they are an impressive sight when they do come out and are a great talking point for a tank.
Scooter Dragonet
Minimum Tank Size:
This little fish is one of the only species of dragonet to feed on brine shrimp with any sort of reliability. They are also one of the only dragonets to tolerate the existence of more of their own kind in large enough tanks. While not as colorful or popular as their cousins, Scooters are still very fun to watch. They hover and hop over the sand, picking out food and making faces at anyone who stops to watch them.
Dr. Oliver Schneider, CC BY-SA 3.0
Clown Goby
Minimum Tank Size:
Adorably small, clown gobies can usually be found sitting on the rocks or the sand. They spend nearly all day out, but are easily overlooked due to their small size and can struggle to compete with more active fish for food. Because of this, they are not recommended for large tanks. They come in various colors, including yellow, green, orange, and black. Most enjoy sitting in or on corals, watching the world with cute little frowns.
Yellow Watchman Goby
(and optional Pistol Shrimp)
Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons
Yellow Watchman gobies are well known for the symbiotic relationship they form with pistol shrimps, where the shrimp digs out and maintains a burrow and the goby protects the shrimp. Yellow Watcmans without shrimp can (and should) be kept in much larger tanks, but shrimp-goby pairs are better observed in smaller tanks.