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: GOBOCE-081593-FERJOE-002

Date received: 8/15/93

Identification: Gobiosoma oceanops (Jordan, 1904)

Geographic origin: West Atlantic

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Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata

Class Osteichthyes Superorder Teleostei

Order Perciformes

Family Gobiidae

Genus Gobiosoma Subgenus Elacatinus

Species Oceanops (Jordan, 1904)

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Duration male(yr): 3.0

Size male (mm): 32

Duration female (yr): 3.0

Size female (mm): 37

Physical differences: Male genitalia parilla is not easily seen

Adult diet: Frozen Artemia, krill, micro worms, Artemia nauplii

Pre-spawning activity: Pairs do not fight, stay close to each and appear “relaxed”.

Time spawning began: AM

Area spawning occurred: PVC tube (US 1″) 15 cm long .

Frequency of spawning: 14 days

Egg description: whitish mass

Approximate quantity: 80 – 250

Size: not indicated

Egg changes / development: Eyes develop day 5. Eyes are reflective.

Incubation period: 7 – 10 days

Time hatching occurred: dark

Size of hatching larvae: 3 mm

Yolk sac present?: yes

Newly hatched appearance: Swim with “jerking” motion. Attracted to light.

Transfer / removal method: not indicated

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Spawning tank size (liter): 37 – 50

Sides covered? Yes, black

Lighting & photo period: 7.5 – 15 watt, photo period not indicated

Filtration: not indicated

Additives and dosages: none

Water temperature (F): 77F

Specific gravity: 1.022

pH: not indicated

Nitrate: 0

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Fry development / changes: Could wait 24 hours before feeding. Hatch clear, coloration begins 25 – 30 days starting with black, followed by blue. Fry begin clinging to sides of tank.

First food offered: Rotifers

Second food offered: Artemia, not indicated at what day.

Survival 4th week(%): 50%

Development description: not indicated

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Rearing tank size (liter): 37

Lighting & photo period: 7.5 – 15 watts. Continuous 60 – 90 days, then 14 hours)

Filtration: aeration only, airstones (low)

Additives and dosages: none

Water temperature (F): 77 F

Specific gravity: 1.022

pH: not indicated

Nitrate: <10 ppm

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Comments: Have also spawned on glass or rock. Tank was not covered post-metamorphosis. New water used with each spawn. First described by David Starr Jordan in 1904 as Elacatinus oceanops. Bohlke and Robins (1968) divided the genus Gobiosoma into 5 subgenera (Gobiosoma, Austrogobius, Garmannia,Tigrigobius and Elacatinus). G. oceanops is commonly called the “neon goby” and is often confused with G. evelynae (Sharknose goby).

Word origin: Gobiosoma comes from the Latin root gobi, =us meaning a kind of fish and the Greek root =soma meaning a body. The genus oceanops comes from the Greek word ocean, -omeaning the ocean and the Greek root op, =s meaning appearance. Thus Gobiosoma oceanopsis a fish body with the appearance of the ocean (the latter possibly refers to the blue coloration).

An excellent reference on this genus is:

Colin, Patrick, The Neon Gobies: The comparative biology of the Gobies of the genus
Gobiosoma, Subgenus Elacatinus, (Pisces: Gobiidae) in the tropical western North Atlantic
Ocean., 1975, T. F. H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-450-8, hardbound 304 pages.

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. 1993