Hi Fin Red Banded Goby

The Hi Fin Red Banded Goby (Stonogobiops nematodes) is a diminutive shrimp goby in the family Gobiidae, closely related to other Stonogobiops species that partner with burrowing snapping shrimp. It occurs throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Philippines and Indonesia through Micronesia and parts of the western Pacific. Its striking tall dorsal fin and delicate red banding make it one of the most recognizable and sought-after small gobies in the marine aquarium trade. It typically inhabits open sand or rubble slopes near reef bases, where it forms a lasting mutualistic bond with a snapping shrimp. The species is common within its range and is not considered threatened.

Distinguishing features of the Hi Fin Red Banded Goby:

• Very small, slender body, usually under 6 cm
• Translucent white base color crossed by thin, evenly spaced reddish-orange diagonal bands
• A dramatically tall, sail-like first dorsal fin, pale yellow and often drawn into a fine trailing filament
• Large, dark eyes set high on the head
• Forked, translucent tail fin

It is most easily confused with the yellownose shrimp goby (Stonogobiops xanthorhinica), but that species has a solid yellow snout rather than fine red banding across the whole body. The exaggerated dorsal fin height relative to its tiny body size is a strong field mark for the genus generally.

This goby lives on open sand and rubble patches at the base of reef slopes and drop-offs, typically in depths from about 10 to 35 meters, always adjacent to a burrow shared with a snapping shrimp. It favors areas with mild current that carries planktonic food past the burrow entrance. Its range covers the tropical western Pacific and parts of the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia, in waters typically between 24 and 29°C. Because it rarely strays from its burrow, suitable soft sediment paired with reef structure for shelter is essential to its distribution.

The Hi Fin Red Banded Goby forms an obligate mutualism with a burrowing Alpheus snapping shrimp: the shrimp excavates and maintains the burrow while the goby, perched at the entrance with its tall dorsal fin raised, watches for predators and signals danger to the nearly blind shrimp through tail movements. It feeds on drifting zooplankton picked from the water column just above the burrow, retreating instantly at any disturbance. Pairs are generally monogamous and territorial, defending their burrow site from neighboring gobies. Eggs are laid inside the shared burrow and guarded until hatching, after which pelagic larvae disperse before settling.