Vanderhorstia ambanoro

Datasheet

General Description

The Ambanoro prawn-goby, scientifically known as Vanderhorstia ambanoro, belongs to the Gobiidae family. These fish are commonly referred to by various names, including Twinspot shrimpgoby, Twin-spot shrimp goby, Twin-spotted shrimp-goby, Ambanoro goby, and Ambanoro prawn-goby. Native to the East Africa to Samoa region, with a distribution extending north to the Yaeyama Islands in the Indo-West Pacific, these fish are typically small bottom-dwelling creatures.

Aquarium Suitability

With a hardiness level of "Hardy," Ambanoro prawn-gobies are generally suitable for aquariums if care is taken to meet their specific needs. They are compatible with reef environments and can be housed in tanks as small as 100 liters, provided they are equipped with suitable substrate and hiding spots to mimic their natural habitat.

Demands, Care, and Hardiness

Requiring frequent feeding, especially when originally introduced to the aquarium, these fish prefer a substrate that allows them to burrow. They often form symbiotic relationships with Pistol shrimp to enhance their survival. Ambanoro prawn-gobies can be territorial and may exhibit aggression towards similar species, making it crucial to provide them with ample space and hiding spots in the aquarium.

Reef Suitability

This species is reef safe, making them compatible with reef tank setups.

Aquarium Setup

To create an ideal aquarium setup for Ambanoro prawn-gobies, it is essential to include a substrate comprising sand, coral pieces, shells, and small broken shell fragments. Providing rocks and structures for burrowing and hiding is vital. Ensuring the tank is spacious enough to accommodate their territorial behavior and prevent stress from interactions with other burrowing species such as Wrasses is crucial for their well-being.

Behaviour

These fish are mostly peaceful but can display aggression towards similar species. They prefer having their own territory and may exhibit territorial behavior, highlighting the importance of providing ample hiding spots in the aquarium.

Feeding and Diet

Ambanoro prawn-gobies primarily feed on small crustaceans like krill, mysis, and artemia, as well as zooplankton such as Cyclops and pods.

Habitat and Distribution

In their natural habitat, Ambanoro prawn-gobies can be found in the West Indian Ocean, Australia, Indonesia, and the East Pacific, with a distribution extending throughout the Central and West Pacific regions. Their affinity for burrowing in sandy substrates and forming symbiotic relationships with Pistol shrimp contributes to their ecological niche in the marine ecosystem.