• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
        • Premium Brine Shrimp Eggs
        • Magnetic Brine Shrimp Eggs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $229
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99 – $209
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $250
          Shop Now
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $79
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $99
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $70
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Blog
  • Shipping
  • Our Guarantee
  • Help
  • Deals
  • Sign In
  • Cart
You are here: Home / Captive Bred Fish & Inverts / Captive Bred Fish / BIOTA Watchman Goby
3 reviews

BIOTA Watchman Goby

  • BIOTA
  • Shipping Days
    Wednesdays
  • Free Overnight
    Transport at $249+

$35

The watchman goby is common, well-known and for long highly appreciated by aquarium hobbyists for its symbiotic relationship with burrowing pistol shrimps. These aquacultured specimens are exceptionally hardy and adjust well to captive life, even in smaller systems.

 

    • Purchase Size: ~2″ (length)
    • Max Size: 3″ (length)
    • Water Parameters:~78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.0-8.4, s.g. 1.021-1.023
    • Color: Yellow or grey with blue speckles
    • Reef-Safe: Yes
    • Feeding: Omnivorous

 

***Fish appearance and size may vary due to factors like lighting, genetics, and growth rates. Fish received may differ slightly from the specified size.***

In stock

Earn 35 PodPoints
Quantity

Save with Subscription:

Total:

$35

Saved

-

  • Description
  • FAQ

Description

Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

The watchman goby (also known as the yellow prawn goby) is fairly common in the trade, though aquacultured specimens are far less often encountered. This highly distinguishable reef fish is well known for its symbiotic association with certain alpheid shrimps (e.g. pistol shrimp); the shrimp excavates a shared burrow which the goby dutifully guards (hence its common name). The watchman goby is suitable for almost any size of marine aquarium, but of course does prefer a deep sand/gravel bed when kept with a pistol shrimp. Neither fish nor shrimp are not at all fussy about aquarium foods.

* Currently we are only stocking the Silver / Blue Variety and not the yellow!

See below for more information.

Size and Care Requirements

  • Purchase Size: ~2″ (length)
  • Max Size: 3″ (length)
  • Water Parameters:~78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.0-8.4, s.g. 1.021-1.023
  • Color: Yellow or grey with blue speckles
  • Reef-Safe: Yes
  • Feeding: Omnivorous

Watchman Goby Species Information

Cryptocentrus cinctus is distributed across the Western Pacific from Japan and Singapore to the southern Great Barrier Reef, Palau and parts of Micronesia. The species mainly occurs on calm, shallow, sandy bottoms in lagoons and protected coastal bays. It is most often found living in a deep burrow with a pistol shrimp at 10 to 25 meters depth.

Benefits of Aquacultured Marine Livestock

Aquacultured fishes offer a huge advantage over wild-caught specimens. For example, when bred and raised under captive conditions, they adjust more easily to aquarium life. They are also much less likely to carry disease. Even more, aquacultured specimens can better tolerate shipping stress. Most notably, by purchasing aquacultured watchman gobies you support the aquaculture of marine organisms and help to make our hobby more sustainable!

100% Alive on Arrival (AoA) Guarantee

We guarantee that every watchman goby we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should it arrive in any other state, we will either replace it free of charge (including shipping) or issue store credit if the total livestock loss is less than $40. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.

FAQ

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 3 × 1 × 1 in

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
Write a review
67%
(2)
0%
(0)
33%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
J
JJ Wang
Healthy fish

Fish was healthy, however the color was a bit dull to my liking.

They paired with tiger pistol shrimp and hide in the cave for the whole day...

C
Claire Nichols
Picture of one of my Biota Watchman’s

I have already written a review about the three I purchased. They tried to kill each other, but this one is very peaceful with my mandarin and a small watchman. He is just happy to be alive and he loves his pencil urchin and little cave.. This tank is a Fluval 32.5. Thank you again.

User picture
C
Claire Nichols
Biota watchman

I thought I had ordered 3 Diamond Watchman for my 3 tanks. I made the mistake of putting all three of these little guys in the same tank. They hate each other and are now split up. They get prettier everyday and I am really happy I made the mistake. I am trying to learn more about them so I can take proper care. Thank you.

Latest News from the AlgaeLab

Our team is hard at work studying how marine ecosystems behave so that you can build your tank with the perfect components!

PNS Deep Cycle

Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

Reef aquariums are a testament to the beauty and complexity of marine ecosystems. Yet, one fundamental difference sets them apart from natural coral

Read More about Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Adding a refugium to the reef tank system can be a game changer for some reef keepers! Most experienced hobbyists agree that a refugiums’ natural

Read More about How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Keeping the Gigas Clam

There is something almost archetypal in the legend of man-eating clams. Perhaps this evokes allegorical imagery of a greedy or overly plucky sort of fool

Read More about Keeping the Gigas Clam

More Great Products

  • BIOTA Scribbled Angelfish

    $400
    Notify Me When in Stock
  • BIOTA White Spotted Dwarf Goby

    $45
    Notify Me When in Stock
  • Court Jester Goby

    Biota Court Jester Goby

    $45
    Shop Now
  • BIOTA Majestic Angelfish

    $190
    Shop Now

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2025, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton