The Breeder’s Registry© Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations from aquarist unless noted otherwise (see comments). Information may be reproduced providing the Breeder’s Registry is cited.

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Breeder ID: CRYCIN-121205-CASNIC-001

Date received: 12/12/2005

Identification: Cryptocentrus cinctus (Herre, 1936)

Geographic origin: Indo-Pacific

Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata

Class Osteichthyes Superorder Teleostei

Order Perciformes

Family Gobiidae

Genus Cryptocentrus (Valenciennes, 1857)

Species cinctus (Herre, 1936)

Description: Debelius and Baensch, (1994) indicate two color morphs; one being golden-yellow in color (Yellow prawn goby) and the other being vertically banded with dark bands on a lighter body (Banded prawn goby). Found in lagoon or other sandy bottomed areas at depths of 2 – 15 meters. Typically as pairs in association with Alpheus species (Pistol shrimp). Standard length is listed as 60 – 90 mm depending on source.

Duration male(yr): 2.5

Size male (mm): ~90

Duration female (yr): 2.0

Size female (mm): ~105

Broodstock notes: Female is larger and more aggressive, and will actively protect the male. Once paired, they become very aggressive within their community tank, and were moved to a separate 20 gallon tank plumbed into the same system.  They did not acclimate well to a bare breeding-style tank with minimal decor (half clay flowerpots), so some sand and rubble was added as well as a few carefully chosen rocks.  Later, a pair of spawning tiger pistols was added, which greatly increased their comfort levels.

Physical differences: Both were initially of common bright yellow coloration.  Upon introduction (paired within minutes), the smaller newcomer (2\D3 at that point) changed to the gray coloration with bright blue pelvic fins and pronounced gray stripes.  Color change was complete within 30 days, and the female was bigger than the male by the end of that period.  First spawn occurred at about 30 days from introduction.

Male eventually also changed to the gray coloration, without the bright blue fins and he is a much paler color.

Adult diet: Highly varied diet consisting of homemade food which is a blend of many seafood meaty items (including mysis, clams, lobster, octopus, squid, table shrimp, scallops, mussels, langostino, krill, etc.) plus Selcon, cyclopeeze and microfoods. Supplemented with feedings of spirulina flakes, Ocean Nutrition Formula One (frozen), Formula Two (frozen) and Prime Reef (frozen).  Fed 1-2 times per day.  (Formerly twice daily, reduced to once daily in an effort to reduce nest size.)

Pre-spawning activity: Increased agitation and aggression and the pistol shrimps start cleaning out the preferred flowerpot for the upcoming spawn approximately 5-6 days before the spawn.  (Chosen flowerpot varies.)  Increased appetite and feeding aggression.

Time spawning began: Unsure, seems to be pre-dawn.

Area spawning occurred: Hanging from ceiling of half clay pots provided for the purpose.  Once they hung the nest from a long piece of shelf rock which is horizontal in the tank and relatively exposed.  Spawn is a mass of yellow eggs hanging from a thread stuck the ceiling.  Egg sac consists of a long thread wound around and around, which is covered with eggs.  (You can only see the threads after the eggs have hatched.)  Total nest size is about ?\D3 wide and 1?\D3 \D0 1?\D3 long, with 5000+ eggs.

Incubation period: 4-5 days

Time hatching occurred: First light of the 5^th day

Size of hatching larvae: < 2mm

Yolk sac present? A small one

Newly hatched appearance: Very small and mostly transparent.  Eyes are very reflective

Transfer / removal method: Egg mass had fallen down at day 2, so it was removed while submerged and placed in 10g hatching tank with 5g of parent water.  A small homemade kriesel was used to gentle tumble and aerate the eggs, simulating the care of the male goby.

Spawning tank size (gallons): 20

Sides of tank covered? No.  Back is painted black.

Lighting & photo period: 15w NO, 12 hours, 15 inches from organism

Filtration: Plumbed into large reef system with live rock and skimmer

Additives and dosages: kalkwasser, Alk and CA supplements as needed

Water temperature (F): 80-81F

Specific gravity: 1.025

pH: 8.3

Nitrate : undetectable

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Fry development / changes: Rapid initial growth and swimming abilities in first week.  Larvae are not phototropic nor photophobic.

First food offered: B. rotundiformis

Second food offered: B. plicatilus

Survival

1st week: 50%

2nd week: 20%

3rd week: 10%

4th week: <1%

Development description: Major die-off at Day 10, reason unknown.  Metamorphosis begins at about Day 20.  Metamorphosis continued  through Day 30, but none survived the process.

Rearing tank size (gallons): 10, with 5 gallons of water

Sides of tank covered? No

Lighting & photo period: 9w NO, 16 hours

Filtration: none

Additives and dosages: ClorAmX

Water temperature (F): 78 – 80

Specific gravity: 1.025

pH: 8.2

Nitrate: not tested

Comments: Instant Ocean used for rotifer cultures and parent tank water (also Instant Algae) used for larval tank

Vernacular name: Yellow watchman goby, yellow prawn goby, Banded prawn goby

Original description: The genus Cryptocentrus was first described by Valenciennes in 1857 based on a specimen collected in the Red Sea (C. cyrptocentrus) Herre is credited (Debelius & Baensch, 1994) as describing Cryptocentrus cinctus in 1936, however a search of available sources finds Herre describing Smilogobius cinctus in 1936 in the Bull. Raffles Mus. v.12; from a specimen collected on a reef in the Singapore Harbor. Other references exist for description of Cryptocentrus species by Herre in 1927 (2), 1932, 1934, and 1935. No validation for S. cinctusis cited nor is any validation of C. cinctus is noted..

The Smithsonian collection lists three specimens collected: Taylor,1981 Halmahera Islands, Indonesia; Chapman, 1944 New Georgia, Soloman Islands; and Ferraris, 1980, Bolinao Lagoon, Pangasinan, Philappines.

Word origin: The genus Cryptocentrus is from the Greek roots crypt, -o, meaning hidden or concealed; and centr, -i, -o, =um meaning a point or spur. The species cinctus appears to be from the Latin word cinct meaning girdled. The color morph mentioned (Banded prawn goby) may have been the type originally collected.

Suggested reading:

Debelius, Helmut, & Baensch, Hans A., Marine Atlas, 1994, Tetra Press,
3001 Commerce Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA, ISBN 1-56465-113-4

Brown, S. D., Gobies, The Journal of Maquariculture, Vol. 4 No. 1, 1996, The
Breeder’s Registry

Manthachitra, V., & Sudara, S., Behaviorial Communication Patterns
Between Gobiid Fishes and Alpheid Shrimp, 1988, Proc. 6th Intl. Cor. Reef.
Symp., V2, Australia

About this report: Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations. Taxonomy, Synonomy, Original description , Word origin and Suggested reading are provided by member(s) of The Breeder’s Registry staff. Information is presented under the belief that it is accurate. If you have information in addition to, or contrary to that presented you are encouraged to contact the Breeder’s Registry. Permission is granted for “one-time” personal use. Reproduction as distributed or accessible media is prohibited without prior written permission. All rights reserved. 2005