{"product_id":"two-spot-goby","title":"Two Spot Goby | Signigobius biocellatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Two Spot Goby, also called the Twinspot or Signal Goby, is a captivating sand-sifting fish with a pair of dark, false eye-spots on its fins that it flares to mimic a much larger animal. It is endlessly watchable as it hops across the sand, scooping and sifting. However, it is honestly a difficult, expert-level fish: most specimens slowly starve in captivity, so it should only be attempted by experienced keepers with a mature, food-rich system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis goby lives over open sand and rubble flats near reefs of the Western Pacific, constantly scooping mouthfuls of sand, filtering out tiny invertebrates and expelling the sand through its gills. Recreating this means a deep, fine sand bed, a mature aquarium and ideally a well-populated refugium that continually replenishes the interstitial life it depends on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is pale cream to tan with darker mottling, tall banded fins and two prominent black ocelli (eye-spots) on the dorsal fins. When threatened it faces intruders and flares these fins to look like the face of a larger creature. A healthy specimen has a rounded, well-filled belly; a pinched or hollow belly is a serious warning sign in this species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful and rather timid. It is best kept in a calm tank without boisterous or competitive tankmates that will outcompete it for food, and it often does best as a bonded pair. It will not harm corals but may occasionally dust low corals with sifted sand. It is easily bullied, so choose quiet companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the crux of keeping this fish alive. Wild diet is tiny sand-dwelling invertebrates, and most aquariums simply cannot sustain that. Provide a deep mature sand bed and refugium, and target-feed several times a day with live and frozen enriched brine, mysis, live blackworms, copepods and fine carnivore preparations. Not all specimens learn to accept prepared foods, so ongoing live and frozen feeding is essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of 190 L with a deep, fine sand bed and, ideally, a refugium feeding the display. Maintain temperature at 24–26°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. A mature, stable, well-established system is critical; new tanks are not suitable. This species is reef safe. Be candid with yourself about the feeding commitment before purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePairs form strong bonds and are known to spawn in captivity, laying eggs in a burrow, but raising the tiny planktonic larvae is extremely difficult and rarely achieved at home. Even so, keeping a settled, well-fed specimen or pair is the most rewarding way to enjoy this fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSignigobius biocellatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwo Spot Goby (Twinspot \/ Signal Goby)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWestern Pacific sand and rubble flats\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 8–10 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to around 4 years, but often much shorter in captivity due to starvation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and timid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e190 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L or larger with refugium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; sand-dwelling micro-invertebrates, live and frozen brine, mysis, copepods, blackworms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, food-rich reef aquariums kept by experienced aquarists\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other calm, non-competitive fish such as small clownfish, firefish, cardinalfish and peaceful gobies in a quiet, well-fed aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or fast-feeding fish such as dottybacks, wrasses, hawkfish and larger damsels that will outcompete or harass this timid, slow-feeding goby.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234137653539,"sku":"BA8641-S","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234137686307,"sku":"BA8641","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562743021859,"sku":"BA8641-S-IMP","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562743054627,"sku":"BA8641-M-IMP","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/two-spot-goby-43090650464547.webp?v=1790306141","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/two-spot-goby","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}