Also Known As: Steinitz' Prawn Goby, Steinitz's Shrimp Goby Compatibility and BehaviorThe Steinitz Goby (Amblyeleotris steinitzi) is a clean, classic-looking shrimp goby. An elongated, cylindrical body in sandy white to pale grey is crossed by five or six broad, well-defined reddish-brown bands, with fine yellow lines. Its blunt head carries large, upward-pointing eyes set high for keeping watch above the sand. It's always reef safe and won't touch corals or inverts. Its calling card, like the rest of the group, is the partnership with a pistol shrimp (recommended to pair with the Tiger Pistol Shrimp), sharing a burrow where the shrimp does the digging and the goby stands sentinel, flicking its tail to warn its nearly blind housemate of danger. A shrimp isn't strictly required, but the pairing instinct runs strong, and a goby kept without one tends to be less active and more reserved. It can be aggressive toward its own kind or similar shrimp gobies, so it's best kept just one shrimp goby to a tank. Aquarium RequirementsSubstrate and a lid come first, as with all the shrimp gobies, and this one has a couple of specifics worth noting. It wants a well-established tank of at least 20 to 30 gallons with a wide-open sand bed 3 to 4 inches deep, on the coarser side and mixed with small rubble or coral chips to help support a stable burrow. Because it spends most of its day hovering near its burrow, placing rubble and small rock near open sand encourages it to stay visible. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid is strongly recommended, since shrimp gobies jump when startled, especially in the first weeks after introduction. Feed several times a day, which matters most early on, since a steady food source helps a new Steinitz settle in and grow more confident and active. Offer krill, mysis, enriched brine, and finely chopped seafood. SpecificationsApproximate Size: 1.75–2.5"Diet: Carnivore; small crustaceans such as krill, mysis shrimp, and enriched brine shrimp, along with finely chopped seafoodOrigin: Indo-PacificCare Level: ModerateReef Safe: YesTemperament: PeacefulMinimum Tank Size: 20 gallonsSpecial Considerations: Needs a coarse-grained sand bed 3–4 inches deep with rubble for burrowing; a known jumper that needs a gap-free lid; forms a beneficial partnership with a pistol shrimp, but may be aggressive toward other shrimp gobies, so keep just one shrimp goby species per tank
