Suntail Goby - Ambyeleotris aurora

Suntail Goby (Amblyeleotris aurora)

The Suntail Goby, Amblyeleotris aurora, is a beautiful and characterful marine shrimp goby, admired for its pale body, pink to orange vertical bars, yellowish tail and fine spotting. Also known as the Pinkbar Goby or Aurora Goby, this species is especially popular for its fascinating relationship with pistol shrimps, where the shrimp maintains the burrow and the goby acts as a lookout. Peaceful, reef safe with caution and full of natural behaviour, it is a brilliant choice for mature marine aquariums with suitable sand, rubble and calm tank mates.

Common Name:
Suntail Goby, Suntail Shrimp Goby, Pinkbar Goby, Pink-Bar Goby, Pinkbar Shrimp Goby, Aurora Goby, Beautiful Prawn-Goby.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Amblyeleotris aurora

Maximum Size:
Around 10–11 cm, making it a small to medium-sized shrimp goby suitable for many mature marine aquariums.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found across parts of the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific reef regions, including sandy and rubble areas around clear coastal reefs and outer reef slopes. In the wild, Suntail Gobies live close to burrows on coarse sandy bottoms, often in partnership with alpheid pistol shrimps such as Alpheus randalli. The goby uses its excellent eyesight to watch for danger while the shrimp maintains the shared burrow.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.020–1.025

Temperament:
Peaceful to mildly territorial. Suntail Gobies are generally safe with peaceful marine community fish, but they may defend their burrow area and can be territorial towards similar shrimp gobies or sand-dwelling gobies in smaller aquariums. Best kept with calm, non-aggressive tank mates that will not bully them or prevent them from feeding.

Diet:
Carnivorous micro-predator. In the aquarium, offer a varied diet including frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brineshrimp, cyclops, copepod-based foods, finely chopped prawn, clam, mussel and quality small marine pellets. Food should be allowed to reach the lower areas of the aquarium, especially if the goby spends much of its time near a burrow. Smaller regular feeds are useful while newly introduced specimens are settling.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical minimum of around 75–100 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums preferred for pairs or if keeping with a pistol shrimp. Provide a suitable sand bed, small rubble pieces, mature rockwork and secure hiding places.

Behaviour & Activity:
A bottom-dwelling shrimp goby that spends much of its time perched near a burrow entrance, watching the aquarium carefully and retreating quickly if startled. When paired with a compatible pistol shrimp, the relationship is fascinating to observe, with the shrimp digging and maintaining the burrow while the goby keeps watch. The shrimp may maintain contact with the goby using its antennae, and both animals retreat into the burrow when danger is detected. A secure lid is recommended, as gobies can jump when startled.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe 
Suntail Gobies do not normally nip corals, clam mantles or sessile invertebrates. However, their burrowing behaviour, especially when paired with a pistol shrimp, can move sand, shift rubble and disturb low-placed corals or small frags. They are best suited to reef aquariums where the rockwork is secure and corals are not placed directly in the digging zone.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, stable marine aquarium with peaceful tank mates and suitable sandy/rubble areas. Rockwork should be placed securely on the base of the aquarium before sand is added, rather than balanced on loose substrate, to prevent collapse if digging occurs underneath. A pistol shrimp is not essential, but it allows the goby to display one of its most natural behaviours. Avoid aggressive wrasses, hawkfish, predatory fish or very boisterous feeders that may intimidate the goby.

Suitable for:
Beginner to Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Occasionally available in the marine aquarium trade / Availability can vary depending on size, supplier and whether paired with a pistol shrimp

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.