Engineer goby

The engineer goby is a marine fish of the family Pholidichthyidae, found across the western Pacific. Despite the common name it is not a true goby. Juveniles are black with a bright white lengthwise stripe, mimicking striped catfish, while adults develop a mottled dark-and-pale barred pattern and an elongated, eel-like body. It is a peaceful, social fish famous for excavating extensive tunnel networks beneath rocks, which can rearrange aquascaping. Juveniles school tightly, and it may be kept singly or in groups given a large tank. A fish-only or robust reef tank with a deep sand bed and securely stacked rock accommodates its digging. It is a carnivore accepting frozen and prepared meaty foods. Notably, it has been bred in captivity, spawning in burrows where the parents guard the eggs.