The scientific name is of griessingeri goby is Discordipinna griessingeri, also known as flaming prawn goby, and spike fin goby. It may be the most beautifully annoying fish you can ever keep.
No doubt, it is one of the most magnificent fish you can get for a Pico aquarium, you will hardly get to appreciate its glory. This tiny fish is becoming much prevalent in the trade of aquariums for obvious reasons.
They are generally expensive than other nano fish. They cost $73, but their price can go as high as $123, which is a big chunk of money for not even a pack of fish.
They are carnivores and dwell in the coastal oceans of the Indo-Pacific.
Although named as a prawn goby, there is no evidence that this particular species enthusiastically interacts or lives with pistol shrimp. However, there are few species of prawn gobies that like to share burrows with shrimp.
The flaming prawn goby is expected to be found on the substrate of the seafloor, rocks, or water tank or hiding inside the coral reef itself. If you love reading about this beautiful fish, enjoy reading our fish guide about other species like neon goby and round goby.
Griessingeri Goby Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Griessingeri goby?
The spikefin goby or Griessingeri goby is a small size saltwater fish that may live in a domesticated nano tank.
What class of animal does a Griessingeri goby belong to?
The spikefin goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) belongs to the class of fishes from the Gobiidae family.
How many Griessingeri gobies are there in the world?
There is no information about the population size of Griessingeri goby.
Where does a Griessingeri goby live?
The goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) is in abundance in the Indo-West Pacific and the Red Sea. It is also found in Australian seas from Scott Reef, Western Australia, and from the Great Barrier Reef off Cape York to One Tree Island in the Capricorn-Bunker Group, Queensland.
It Inhabits areas with live coral and reef, rubble, and sand, in depths of 6.5-121 ft (2-37 m).
What is a goby discordipinna griessingeri habitat?
The spectacular spikefin goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) usually lives in small crevices and reef slopes. Although also known as the flaming prawn goby, it does not stay in association with burrowing brine shrimps.
Who do Griessingeri gobies live with?
This species prefers to stay singly or in pairs. Avoid putting them in an aquarium in company with large and aggressive fishes like sharks, as there is a danger of them being preyed upon.
How long does a Griessingeri goby live?
They live for three to five years.
How do they reproduce?
The female fish matures between one to two years and produces a clutch of 100-4000 eggs at a time. Spawning occurs in the warm season that is from April to September.
They can spawn every 20 days. Male fish safeguards the nests and attracts females to come and lay eggs there. At one time, multiple females can lay their eggs in a single male’s nest.
What is their conservation status?
There are five marine species of goby that are Critically Endangered, 18 are vulnerable, and 12 are low risk. Some important causes for their decline are agricultural practices and the introduction of non-native species.
This is not astonishing considering the variety of this family. However, according to IUCN Red List, Griessingeri goby falls under the Least Concern category and is not endangered.
Griessingeri Goby Fun Facts
What do Griessingeri gobies look like?
The species of this spikefin goby has a cream-yellow body. The underside of the body and lower part of the caudal fin is brownish-red-orange in color. The head is covered with dark brown spots.
The first dorsal fin is orange-red, whereas the pectoral fin is orange in color with an oblique translucent band. The second dorsal fin is orange with the translucent band in proximity to the base. The caudal fin of the spike fin has a broad white longitudinal band with numerous orange-brown blotches.
Each blotch has a central black spot. The first dorsal fin of the males has the two longest anterior rays.
The fin membrane is deeply concave between the first two dorsal spines. It has infraorbital papillae in a longitudinal series. The anterior oculoscapular canal is present, whereas the preopercular and posterior oculoscapular canals are absent.
How cute are they?
They are adorable and magnificent as compared to other tiny fishes like sucker fish and triggerfish.
How do they communicate?
According to resources, the fish communicate through ray nerve fibers that echo the amplitude and velocity of fin ray bending. The fin sensory abilities expand the variety of capabilities of vertebrate proprioception. Therefore, it suggests that the pectoral fins are the possible proprioceptive sensors of their efficient morphology, drive, and progression.
How big is a Griessingeri goby?
The giant goby is about 11 in (27 cm), which is two times bigger than the spikefin fish, whose length is 10 cm (4 in).
How fast can a Griessingeri goby swim?
The muscles of the body contract from side to side and front to back. The body of the spike fin goby pushes against the water and moves the fish forward. Fins help the Griessingeri goby (Discordipinna griessingeri) in fine-tune swimming. The caudal fin increases its speed remarkably.
How much does a Griessingeri goby weigh?
The spikefin weighs around 0.18-2.82 oz (5-79.8 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male and female names of this species are the same, that is spikefin.
What would you call a baby Griessingeri goby?
As such, no information is available on what a baby of spike fin goby is called.
What do they eat?
The spikefin goby's diet consists of a variety of frozen seafood, brine shrimp, and Mysis shrimp, or flake food. Also, there are ample small size amphipods and copepods in the rocks to support their diet.
Are they poisonous?
No evidence is available to support the fact that it is poisonous.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, Griessingeri spikefin goby form excellent pets for your nano aquarium. It is one of the shyest, small in size fish you can ever keep in your aquarium.
It’s not their fault, as they are barely an inch long as an adult and prefer to stay hidden most of the time in sand and gravel.
Its favorite hiding spot is usually at the back of the tank amidst the rocks and artificial reef and coral, totally invisible to the casual observer.
The best time to enjoy the glimpse of the fish is while putting in its food diet. It is fond of a variety of frozen foods, freshly hatched baby brine shrimp and will briefly lower their shyness while searching for tiny floating prey.
Did you know...
On observing them, you will notice that this species of fish will constantly flash its elongated dorsal fin and enlarged pectoral fins. It is a sight to watch them in your aquarium as it uses some form of visual signal.
The exact purpose of this signaling is not known. These fish will set up a small territory, so perhaps it is just a signal to any trespassers and telling them to move on!
Naming the Griessingeri goby
It falls under the genus Discordipinna and is also called spike fin goby or flaming prawn, mostly due to its orange spikey fins.
Griessingeri goby tank mates
This goby tends to do better with most fish. Do not put this species with larger and aggressive fish or invertebrates as they would be in danger of preying upon by the big fish. They also do not do well with other gobies in the same tank.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fishes from our flagfish facts or fluke fish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Griessingeri goby coloring pages.