Hector's Goby

Hector's Goby: The Striped Nano Reef Star

The Hector's Goby (Koumansetta hectori), also known as the Hector's Hover Goby, is a small but vividly marked fish that makes an excellent, peaceful addition to any reef aquarium. Its sleek, slender body features striking coloration: a dark, often bluish-black or olive base overlaid with bright yellow or gold horizontal stripes that run from head to tail.

This goby is highly regarded not just for its beauty, but also for its beneficial habits. It is one of the smaller, more manageable sand-sifters, known for hovering just above the substrate, taking mouthfuls of sand, and sifting out micro-fauna and detritus, which helps keep the sand bed clean and aerated. The Hector's Goby is also noted for grazing on nuisance filamentous hair algae and sometimes cyanobacteria, making it a functional member of your clean-up crew.

The Hector's Goby is perfectly suited for nano reef tanks, requiring a minimum of 20 gallons with a well-established sand bed and ample live rock for hiding spots. They are completely reef safe and pose no threat to corals or invertebrates. They are peaceful toward most fish, but should be kept singly or in a confirmed mated pair, as they can be aggressive toward other gobies in confined spaces. A tight-fitting lid is recommended as this species can be easily spooked and may jump.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Koumansetta hectori
• Common Names: Hector's Goby, Hector's Hover Goby
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea
• Max Size: 3 to 3.5 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful and Shy
• Diet: Omnivore. Needs meaty foods (mysis, brine shrimp, copepods) and will graze on filamentous algae.
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons