White Cap Goby (Lotilia graciliosa)

The White Cap Goby is prized for its unusual and beautiful, stark coloration. Its body is a black color, but it is the thick white band on it's head, that place Lotilia graciliosa in a class of elegance wholly its own.

Native to the relatively shallow reefs , wild specimens of the White Cap Goby inhabit open sand areas dotted with rubble near the base of reef structures. In the home aquarium, the White Cap Goby does best when housed in similar habitats. Like other Shrimp Gobies in the Gobiidae family, the White Cap Goby digs shallow burrows in sandy substrate and seldom strays far from its claimed territory. Instead, most prefer to perch on the sand just outside or hover in the water column directly above the burrow entrance.

While poised outside its burrow, the White Cap Goby keeps a watchful eye for both predators and prey. If a larger or aggressive fish approaches, the White Cap Goby will dart back into its burrow to hide. If prey is found floating in the water column, however, Lotilia graciliosa will quickly burst upwards and snatch it before returning almost directly to the mouth of its burrow.

Another characteristic the White Cap Goby share with other Shrimp Gobies, is that the White Cap Goby will also pair with pistol shrimp. Most seem to prefer Alpheus rubromaculatus as their burrowmate. However, to best promote this symbiotic relationship, both the White Cap Goby and its hopeful pistol shrimp counterpart should be introduced into the aquarium at the same time. Though peaceful, the White Cap Goby will sometimes spar with similar species, or more aggressive fish of similar size to defend its territory. However, most live peacefully with almost any non-predatory fish in a suitable sized aquarium of at least 10 gallons.

Feed these carnivores a varied diet of mysis shrimp and other frozen meaty foods, and suitable phytoplankton and flake foods. Most gobies do best when fed multiple small meals throughout the day. To best recreate natural feeding conditions, it is best to place the food in the outflow of a water pump or wavemaker so it actively disperses into the water column.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1-3/4"

Care details

• Temperature: 72 - 78° F
• dKH: 8 - 12
• Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
• Color: Black and White
• Family: Gobiidae
• Diet: Carnivore