White Cap Goby

Lotilia klausewitzi - The White Cap Goby is one of the rarest gobies in the aquarium trade, and even most experienced aquarists have never seen one in person.

Wild-caught White Cap Gobies are notoriously difficult to feed, but these captive-bred individuals from Reef Life Creations, bred and raised by David Sowash, are already trained to eat prepared foods like frozen baby brine, chopped mysis, and PE Calanus. This makes them significantly easier to keep and maintain in captivity. While still growing, they should be fed at least 3 to 4 times daily.

Sowash refers to these as “Spanish Dancer” gobies due to their mesmerizing, flowing movements. As he describes it, their fins resemble the shifting dots of a dress in a Spanish dance.

At just 1.5 cm at sale size and reaching a maximum of around 2 inches, this species is best suited for a small, species-only aquarium. They are peaceful, reef-safe fish that will not bother corals or sessile invertebrates. Do not house them with aggressive tankmates or anything that could view them as prey. Like many gobies, they are prone to jumping when startled, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

Shrimp Symbiosis

White Cap Gobies are known for their fascinating symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp. While the shrimp are not currently aquacultured, the gobies do not require a shrimp partner to thrive in captivity.

In the wild, the shrimp constructs and maintains a burrow shared with the goby. In return, the goby acts as a lookout, warning the shrimp of danger. The shrimp, which has poor eyesight, keeps one antenna in contact with the goby at all times to stay “in communication.” When a threat approaches, the goby signals the shrimp to retreat, and both quickly disappear into the safety of the burrow. It is not uncommon to find pairs of gobies and shrimp sharing a single burrow in nature.

The White Cap Goby naturally pairs with Alpheus rubromaculatus, but in aquariums may also associate with other species such as Alpheus bellulus, Alpheus randalli, Alpheus ochrostiratus, or Alpheus djiboutensis. Keep in mind that not all pistol shrimp form symbiotic relationships with gobies, many are free-living or associate with other invertebrates. While “adopted” pairings can occur, they are less predictable and may not display the same natural behaviors.

We recommend introducing all new fish with an acclimation box.