Orange-striped Goby, scientifically known as Amblygobius decussatus, is a type of goby fish found in tropical reefs in the western Pacific Ocean, possibly also in central Indo-Pacific regions.
The Orange-striped Goby likes living on muddy bottoms where it hides inside burrows made by other creatures.
This fish eats by taking mouthfuls of sand and filtering out small animals and organic bits. It’s sometimes kept in aquariums.
Orange-striped Goby is safe for coral reefs since it doesn’t harm other invertebrates while feeding or living in its habitat.
Orange-striped Goby Interesting Facts
- Orange-striped Goby thrives in tropical reef habitats and is found from the Philippines to the Great Barrier Reef.
- This fish feeds by filtering small animals and organic matter from mouthfuls of sand.
- As a coral reef-safe species, it doesn’t harm coral while feeding or living in its habitat.
- It has unique features, such as pale bluish-grey coloration with orange stripes and markings.
Orange-striped Goby Habitat
Orange-striped Goby is found in the Western Central Pacific, from the Philippines to New Caledonia, and as far north as the Yaeyama Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef. This fish is also widespread throughout Micronesia.
Orange-striped Goby lives in marine and brackish water environments, often associated with coral reefs. It’s found at depths ranging from 3 to 25 meters (about 10 to 82 feet).
The Orange-striped Goby prefers water temperatures between 71.6°F to 86°F (22°C to 30°C), making it a tropical species. Its geographical range extends from latitude 25°N to 24°S.
| Water Temperature: | 71.6°F to 86°F (22°C to 30°C) |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Orange-striped Goby Physical Characteristics
Size: 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters)
Orange-striped Goby grows up to 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters) long. It has 7 dorsal spines, 14 dorsal soft rays, 1 anal spine, and 14 anal soft rays.
Its body is pale bluish-grey with two noticeable orange stripes on its head. The sides of this fish have four faint orange stripes and blurry cross-bars. There’s an orange spot at the base of its tail fin.
Both the first and second dorsal fins are equal in height, and the tail fin is rounded.
Orange-striped Goby has around 55 to 60 scales running along the side of its body and about 23 to 28 scales before the beginning of its dorsal fin.
Scales are present on top of the gill cover but not on the cheeks; these scales have small teeth-like structures (ctenoid).
However, there are smooth (cycloid) scales on parts like the neck area (nape), belly area (abdomen), and gill cover (opercle).
The depth of this fish’s body is about four to almost five times smaller than its length from head to tail.
Orange-striped Goby Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Gobiidae |
| Genus: | Amblygobius |
| Scientific Name: | Amblygobius decussatus |
| Also Known As: | Orange-striped Goby |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |