Name that goby

[tameyourself]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/TameYourself/Fish/5-18-09008.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/TameYourself/Fish/5-18-09010.jpg

It is supposed to be an algae eater... it is new and rare, that is all I know. Somebody told me that is is probably a stiphodon or Sicyopterus but I can't find any pics that look like mine.

[vampie]

That person is probably right, though getting down to the species level when identifying Stiphodons, Sicyopterus, Sicydium, Sicyopus, etc can be pretty hard.

A possibility is that it's a female Sicyopus jonklaasi. I've also seen a goby sold as Arrow goby/Red arrow goby that it certainly resembles, though this was at least a year ago, and I'm beginning to think that was Sicyopus jonklaasi as well.

If nothing else, you could always try getting some answers at Gobygroup.

[Inka4040]

The red shading on the rear coulpled with the faint black barring suggests that it may be sicyopus zosterophorum. Unfortunately, until it colors up, as vampie said, it's gonna be hard to tell definitively. Jonklaasis tend to have very little dark color on the body, so if the vertical banding develops further, I'd lean towards zosterophorum. If it remains as such, I'd go with a female of either species, and if the red on the lip and lower posterior body brightens, then its probably jonklaasi.

[vampie]

Good point. I was really focusing on the red on the mouth and towards the tail, I'm just noticing the banding and the teardrop.

[tameyourself]

Thanks guys!
Do you think this is a young one and has not fully colored up yet? Perhaps that is why I can't find any pics.

Are gobys known for eating other fish? I was told that it wouldn't eat any of my fish but as soon as I put it in the tank my boraras (briggitae & mereh) started dissapearing. I even saw the goby with one in its mouth!!

[vampie]

It could be, or it could be a female, or a non-dominant male.

The general rule with gobies and their tankmates is "they'll eat whatever fits in their mouth", but I'd imagine "sicyo-gobies" would be an exception. They're algae grazers by nature, and being without a swim bladder and with a terminal or downturned mouth doesn't exactly put them in great position to hunt other fish.

[tameyourself]

Hmmm, so what happened to my boraras!??

[vampie]

I know I said it seems unlikely, but I wouldn't rule it out - after all, gobies are gobies, and boraras are easy targets.

[tameyourself]

Well after spending at least 3 hours trying to catch the little ******* - I finally caught the goby and moved it to its own tank. Also, I found out that I have 2 boraras left...