Dragon (Bullet) Goby

The saltwater Bullet Goby, commonly identified as Amblygobius phalaena, is a peaceful sand-sifting goby prized for its natural cleaning behavior. It spends most of its time taking mouthfuls of sand, filtering out food, and expelling clean substrate—helping keep the aquarium bed aerated and free of debris. With its subtle striping and constant activity, this goby is both functional and fascinating, making it a great addition to established reef tanks with mature sand beds.

Quick Care Guide

Temperament
Peaceful. Generally safe with other reef fish. May be territorial toward other sand-sifting gobies unless the tank is large.

Diet
Carnivore/Detritivore (sand-sifter).
Recommended foods include:

• Natural microfauna from sand bed
• Frozen foods (mysis shrimp, brine shrimp)
• Sinking meaty foods
• Supplemental feeding is important—can starve in immature tanks

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72–78°F
• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 SG
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <10–20 ppm

Minimum Tank Size
30–50 gallons (larger preferred with established sand bed)

Reef Safe
Generally yes (may move sand around corals)

Adult Size
5–6 inches