information on the court jester goby

[brunobear]

I've got a local fish store that's got a few of these in stock and from my research, they seem pretty low maintenance and reef friendly, although I've seen some warnings about potential SPS nipping.

I'm getting mixed signals on keeping them in groups, though - some sites say solo is the way to go, while others recommend groups of five or more. Anyone have any real-world experience with this?

[Riveno9]

Sorry brunobear, I'm not familiar with the Court Jester Goby specifically, but I do know of some fish species that exhibit similar behavior. For example, freshwater tropical angels are best kept alone or in groups of six or more. Having just one is fine, but introducing a few more can lead to fin nipping and aggression between them. However, once you have a larger group, the aggression seems to dissipate. In particular, males can be quite aggressive towards each other unless they're in a group. I'm not sure if this applies to the Court Jester Goby, but it's a possibility worth considering.

[brunobear]

That's a good point, it could indeed be the reason behind the varying stocking recommendations, and it would make sense that having just one or a larger group would be the way to go.

[flynix]

I'd personally stick with a single Court Jester. From what I've gathered, they're indeed Amblygobius hectori. Given the conflicting info on group sizes, I think it's safer to err on the side of caution and just keep one, at least that way you avoid any potential issues.

[brunobear]

No, it's actually Amblygobius rainfordi.

I was hoping to get a group of them, since I've read they're relatively easy to breed. Guess I'll just have to keep researching to see what I can find out about their spawning habits.

[fleeton]

Honestly, I'm not a fan of keeping Court Jester Gobies in aquaria. I've never seen anyone have long-term success with them, and the few success stories I've come across are the exception rather than the rule. The main issue with these fish is food - they're ridiculously finicky. They tend to only eat specific types of algae and pods, which are a nightmare to provide in bulk, especially for a shy fish stuck in a tank with more boisterous tankmates. I learned this the hard way when I tried keeping one, after my LFS told me they'd eat hair algae... yeah, no. The only thing I could occasionally get it to eat was glass scrapings. Poor guy didn't last a month. In my opinion, I wouldn't bother keeping one again.

[brunobear]

Appreciate the input. I've done some more digging on these Court Jester Gobies, and I've come to a similar conclusion regarding their feeding habits - they seem to be quite finicky eaters. Given my current setup, with no fuge and a significantly reduced pod population after the move, I think I'll have to pass on these guys for now. It's a shame, really, as they are quite attractive fish.