The Black Clown Goby (Gobiodon strangulatus) as the name suggest, is an all black saltwater fish. It is generally a peaceful fish that spends its time perched on rocks, coral, glass, or equipment in the aquarium. It does not sift through sand like other species of goby. This carnivorous fish is fairly easy to care for, and this guide will cover the Black Clown Goby’s aquarium requirements, food and dietary needs, compatible tank mates, and more.
Aquarium Requirements
Black Clown Gobies only grow to a max size of 1.5 inches. It is possible to keep them in a 10 gallon aquarium or larger. I usually recommend at least a 20 gallon aquarium for beginners due to the sensitivity of saltwater fish and water parameters swings. The aquarium should be full of varying sized live rock that the fish can perch on. I would recommend keeping a lid on the fish tank because this species can jump out.
Water Parameters
Water parameters and keeping them stable is very important to having a healthy fish tank. Most saltwater fish have similar water parameter requirements, but there are some exceptions to this. The following are the parameters that the Black Clown Goby will need.
- Water Temperature: 72°-78° F
- dKH: 8 – 12
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
- Salinity: 1.020 – 1.025 sg
Consider getting a High Range pH and KH test kit to test for pH & dKH. Keeping your temperature between 72° and 78° can be accomplished with a heater. Take a look at my guide which showcases some great aquarium heaters. Lastly, I would pick up a Refractometer from Amazon to keep an eye on your salinity levels. If calibrated correctly, refractometers are much more accurate compared to a hydrometer which loses accuracy due to salt buildup on the dial. Check out Different Salinity Reading Tools For Saltwater Fish Tanks to get an idea of other salinity testing devices available.
Is the Black Clown Goby Reef Safe?
Just like other species of Clown Goby, Black Clown Gobies are mostly reef safe. A single Clown Goby may not disturb SPS coral, but a breeding pair likely will. This species may lay eggs under branching stony coral, like Acropora, which may recede the skin of the coral. The only other note is that they will likely rest on coral which could cause the polyps to close, which could stress the coral out. They should not bother invertebrates in the aquarium.
Food & Diet
I mentioned earlier that this fish species is carnivorous. In the home aquarium they should be fed a variety of protein rich foods. I recommend providing them with Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and other types of meaty foods that can be found online and at pet stores. Black Clown Gobies will also benefit from getting supplemented with a high quality flake food and a high quality pellet food. I enjoy using the New Life Spectrum All Purpose Flake Food and the New Life Spectrum Marine Pellet Formula for my saltwater aquariums.
Tank Mates
The Black Clown Goby is a peaceful fish and should not bother others in the aquarium. They will be perfectly fine with Dwarf Angels, Clownfish, Wrasses, Tangs, Foxfaces, Rabbitfish, Butterflys, Basslets, other gobies, and many other fish. However, be cautious when adding them with other rock dwelling fish. Other species may bully Black Clown Gobies away from their rocky territory.
Black Clown Gobies can also be kept in pairs, if you have an appropriately sized aquarium. Up to four individuals should work in a 40 gallon or larger aquarium. Do not keep an odd number of fish because one of the three will likely be picked on quite a bit.
Breeding
It is likely that Black Clown Gobies will breed in the aquarium. They will lay eggs on different surfaces like cables, rock, and glass, to name a few. I have not personally bred this species before, but there is a fantastic forum post on Marine Breeding Initiative, that discusses the process in great detail, mentioning things that went well, and areas that did not succeed.
Final Notes
There are many different species of goby in this hobby. Most of us are looking for a sand sifting species to help maintain a clean sand bed. If you’re looking for something different, really consider the Black Clown Goby. If this species doesn’t catch your attention, there are plenty of other saltwater fish available for you.