Furry Diary

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Citron Clown Goby

Gobiodon citrinus

Also called Poison goby, Lemon coral goby, Citrinis goby, Clown goby, Four-bar maori goby

SpeciesShort profile

From Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea south to Mozambique and east to Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef; among Acropora corals at about 2 to 20 m12

A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.

At a glance the quick version

Length5 to 6.6 cm312
Lifespan4 to 5 years3
Sizetiny
Vivid lemon colour with blue face lines
Small and well suited to reef tanks
Has been bred in aquariums
231

Looks how to spot one

Small coral goby

A small, rounded goby that is usually bright yellow to yellow-orange, with thin pale blue lines around the eyes and across the gill covers. Some individuals are a darker brown instead of yellow.23

Coloursbright yellowyellow-orangedark brown (some individuals)pale blue facial lines23

Personality what they are like

Peaceful with most tank mates, but it can defend its patch from its own kind and from other small bottom fish such as gobies, blennies and dartfish, especially in small tanks.3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A perching fish that sits on rocks and coral in the lower and middle levels of the tank rather than swimming in open water.31

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Rated easy care. It needs a mature aquarium with stable water. It is safe with soft corals and LPS, but may nip small-polyp stony corals, so take care in SPS tanks.3

Home where they are happiest

A reef aquarium from about 75 litres (20 US gallons) with live rock and coral to perch on and plenty of visual barriers. In the wild it lives in tropical water of about 22 to 27 C.31

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Eats small invertebrates and zooplankton in the wild. In tanks feed frozen or live mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp once or twice a day.13

Company who they like around

Found alone or in pairs on wild reefs. Keep one, or a pair, per tank. It mixes well with peaceful fish such as firefish, cardinalfish, basslets and damselfish.13

The story where it all began

Eduard Rüppell described the species in 1838 under the name Gobius citrinus. It is now placed in the coral goby genus Gobiodon and is a well-known reef aquarium fish that has also been raised in captivity.21

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    Its skin mucus is toxic, which is where the name poison goby comes from, and it keeps predators away.2

  2. 2

    Like other coral gobies it can breathe air when needed.1

  3. 3

    It has been successfully reared in aquariums.2

  4. 4

    It has a huge range, from the Red Sea and East Africa all the way to Samoa.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List
Least Concern (assessed 28 June 2018)1
Taxonomy
Described by Eduard Rüppell in 1838 as Gobius citrinus2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Citron Clown Goby. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Citron Clown Goby?

Feed your Citron Clown Goby small amounts once or twice a day. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests daily feeding. Offer only what it can eat in a couple of minutes to keep the water clean.31 Furry Diary plan

What does a Citron Clown Goby eat, and what should it never eat?

It eats frozen or live mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp. Never feed it anything that could harm its tiny mouth or pollute the tank, and always check with your vet for specific foods.31

How much space does a Citron Clown Goby need?

It needs a reef aquarium of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons) with live rock and coral to perch on. Plenty of visual barriers help it feel secure.31

What temperature, light or water does a Citron Clown Goby need?

Keep the water temperature between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius. It needs stable, mature saltwater with proper salinity, and Furry Diary's plan includes daily temperature checks and weekly salinity tests.31 Furry Diary plan

How often should I clean a Citron Clown Goby's home?

Clean the glass weekly and do a 10 to 20% water change every two weeks. Top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water, not salt water, and test water weekly. Furry Diary plan

Can a Citron Clown Goby live with others?

Yes, it is peaceful with most tank mates like firefish and cardinalfish, but keep only one or a pair per tank. Avoid other small bottom fish in small tanks as it may defend its patch.31

How long does a Citron Clown Goby live?

With good care, it typically lives 4 to 5 years. Providing a stable, mature aquarium helps it reach its full lifespan.3

Can I handle a Citron Clown Goby?

It is best not to handle this fish, as it is small and delicate. It prefers to perch on rocks and coral, and handling can stress or injure it.31

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. FishBase: Gobiodon citrinus fishbase.seused for range, size, depth, diet, air breathing, social, IUCN
  2. Wikipedia: Gobiodon citrinus en.wikipedia.orgused for names, describer, colours, toxic mucus, captive rearing
  3. Saltwaterfish.com: Citron Clown Goby saltwaterfish.comused for aquarium care, tank size, compatibility, diet, lifespan
  4. VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
  5. ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
  6. ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
  7. ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
  8. RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.