Should I get neon gobies (Elacatinus oceanops)?

[WheatToast]

A pair of neon gobies (Elacatinus oceanops) was always on my wishlist for fish, though I am beginning to question whether I should purchase them given their relatively short lifespan. Is it true that they only live between 1-2 years old, or would they live longer in a captive setting? If it's true that they do not live for very long, are there any similar-looking alternatives that would live longer, like other species of Elacatinus? I'm not looking for another cleaner animal (I already have two cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis and Lysmata debelius) and my display tank is a 40-gallon planted marine tank.

Future tankmates include, though are not limited to:
Chromis cyanea (x1) (already in quarantine)
Chromis viridis (x1) (already in quarantine)
Ecsenius stigmatura (x1) (already in quarantine)
Gobiesox punctulatus or Gobiesox strumosus (x1)

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

This is probably your best bet...

Blue Neon Cleaner Goby

Elacatinus oceanops - The Biota captive bred Blue Neon Cleaner Goby, aka Neon Goby, is a small, hardy goby perfect for nano aquariums. This species is a facultative cleaner that will gently clean larger fish in your aquarium. They do not rely on cleaning large fish as a food source and will...

shop.thebiotagroup.com

"This species is short-lived, so choosing captive bred Neon Gobies is a wise choice so you know you're receiving a young specimen."

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Certainly not the same fish, but if you're open to a longer-lived fish with similar color and personality, you might consider the Blue Gudgeon Dartfish (Ptereleotris heteroptera)

 

[WheatToast]

Bump

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Bump

From everything I can find, all Elacatinus have a lifespan of 12-18 months, possibly 2 years if captive bred.
But you can still get them... Just figure replacement costs into you budget

 

[WheatToast]

This is probably your best bet...

Blue Neon Cleaner Goby

Elacatinus oceanops - The Biota captive bred Blue Neon Cleaner Goby, aka Neon Goby, is a small, hardy goby perfect for nano aquariums. This species is a facultative cleaner that will gently clean larger fish in your aquarium. They do not rely on cleaning large fish as a food source and will...

shop.thebiotagroup.com

"This species is short-lived, so choosing captive bred Neon Gobies is a wise choice so you know you're receiving a young specimen."

Good to know! Thank you!

Certainly not the same fish, but if you're open to a longer-lived fish with similar color and personality, you might consider the Blue Gudgeon Dartfish (Ptereleotris heteroptera)

Thanks for reminding me of this fish! I considered it a while back and the coloration is gorgeous, but seems to grow a bit large though.

 

[DaJMasta]

I don't know if they have a different lifespan, but I've got a couple of sharknose gobies which look almost identical and I've been very happy with them. One of the few fish that is really 'interactive' by default, as when you come up to the tank, they'll look at you, give you a wiggle, and then swim over to the glass to try and clean you.

The sharknose gobies have no problems getting along with cleaner shrimp, and while most of my fish are too small to want to be cleaned most of the time, there does seem to be some order of cleaner preference for most fish.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Good to know! Thank you!

Thanks for reminding me of this fish! I considered it a while back and the coloration is gorgeous, but seems to grow a bit large though.

5 inches, it seems.

 

[Tamberav]

Sharknose are larger then neons I think. Not sure if that means they live a bit longer They are very striking with the blue and yellow though.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Sure, why not get them? They are great little fish, colorful, active, inexpensive, get along with others, cool to see them clean other fish, and they usually come up to the glass when you approach.

It sucks to lose fish but you cant expect to never lose any. And if it only lives for 1-2 years, then you gave it a great life.

 

[i cant think]

Most gobies live between 1 and 3 years. Elacantinus will live for 12 months if wild caught but they can live to 18+ if captive bred.
As for the Sharknose Gobies, they have a similar life span as Oceanops does.
Personally I’d have another think about it and explore more of the family of Gobiidae.

 

[wtdenk]

A pair of neon gobies (Elacatinus oceanops) was always on my wishlist for fish, though I am beginning to question whether I should purchase them given their relatively short lifespan. Is it true that they only live between 1-2 years old, or would they live longer in a captive setting? If it's true that they do not live for very long, are there any similar-looking alternatives that would live longer, like other species of Elacatinus? I'm not looking for another cleaner animal (I already have two cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis and Lysmata debelius) and my display tank is a 40-gallon planted marine tank.

Future tankmates include, though are not limited to:
Chromis cyanea (x1) (already in quarantine)
Chromis viridis (x1) (already in quarantine)
Ecsenius stigmatura (x1) (already in quarantine)
Gobiesox punctulatus or Gobiesox strumosus (x1)

 

[dennis romano]

I have two in a 40 breeder since Feb. 2020. They came from KP Aquatics and were young, about an inch. The larger male constantly chases the smaller if the smaller intrudes into his territory. Outside of that, they don't bother other fish. I have had quite a few over the years. Sometimes, they will swim onto your hand and "clean" it. They will breed in an aquarium. I had a pair that bred every two weeks. They laid eggs inside of pvc and the fry would swim towards the light as soon as the lights turned on.