The Court Jester Goby (Koumansetta rainfordi), also known as the Rainford's Goby, or Old Glory, is native to the Western Pacific reefs and is a peaceful and attractive fish, popular in saltwater aquariums.
Rainford's Goby is extremely popular for "nano" aquariums due to its vivid coloration as well as its very small size and environmental impact. This species tends to stay near the bottom of the aquarium constantly sifting around for copepods and nibbling on filamentous algae. Here are some key care guidelines:
Tank Requirements:
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Tank Size: Minimum 10-20 gallons. While it's a small fish (about 2.5 inches), it needs space to swim and forage.
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Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 72-78°F (22-26°C)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.023-1.025
- dKH: 8-12
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Aquascape: Provide plenty of live rock with crevices for hiding and foraging. They like open sand beds and structures for grazing on algae.
Diet:
- Primarily herbivores, but they also accept small meaty foods. Their diet should consist of:
- Algae (prefer live algae in the tank)
- Frozen and live foods like brine shrimp and mysis shrimp
- High-quality prepared foods (pellets or flakes) designed for herbivores.
Note: Court Jester Gobies are known to graze on filamentous algae, which can help maintain algae control in the tank.
Behavior and Tank Mates:
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Temperament: Peaceful and shy. They do best with non-aggressive tank mates.
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Tank Mates: They are compatible with other peaceful fish like clownfish, small gobies, and some shrimp. Avoid aggressive species that could outcompete them for food.
Special Care Tips:
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Substrate: Fine sand is preferred as they sometimes burrow or sift through the sand.
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Feeding: Feed them multiple times a day in small amounts, especially if there’s not much natural algae in the tank.
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Algae: They rely heavily on algae as part of their diet, so a tank with a stable and natural growth of algae is ideal.
This goby is relatively hardy if provided with a stable environment and sufficient algae. They make a great addition to peaceful reef setups!
