Just a few days ago, De Jong Marinelife announced that they had successfully bred Gobiodon okinawae (yellow clown goby). This species is ideal for small marine aquariums and adds a colorful pop of personality to any tank (just keep them away from Acropora).
I spoke with De Jong directly, and they provided the following details.
“The coral-dwelling Gobiodon okinawae, commonly known as the Okinawa goby, is a cherished species in nano reef aquariums, captivating hobbyists with its vibrant yellow coloration and unique perching behavior. This species was a key focus of our larval project, led by our senior larval culture specialist, Jonathan Simon. Thanks to Jonathan’s dedication and, of course, the hard work of our entire hatchery team, this iconic species has been successfully aquacultured at De Jong Aquaculture in the Netherlands—marking another significant step toward sustainable marine aquarium fish breeding.
The parents laid between 50 to 200 eggs, which hatched on October 23, 2024, with an 90% hatching rate. The newly hatched larvae were small, measuring only 2 millimeters in length, making their early development particularly challenging. To optimize survival, the eggs were laid on a dead Acropora sp. skeleton, which was carefully removed before hatching and transferred to a 64-liter black round tub for controlled rearing. The larvae were raised at a stable 26°C under an 18:6 photoperiod (light:dark cycle).
Image of eggs prior to hatching.
Providing the right live feed in the first weeks was crucial for survival, as the tiny larvae were too small to consume rotifers or Artemia nauplii. Instead, a specialized diet was required. A diverse mix of small zooplankton was used, including copepod nauplii, cryo-preserved barnacle larvae, and ciliates, combined with greenwater techniques to enhance prey visibility and nutritional quality. One of the most notable aspects of the rearing process was the extended pelagic period—the larvae remained in the water column for nearly 40 days, undergoing metamorphosis on December 4, 2024. After settling, they took another two months to reach a tradeable size of 1 cm, only achieving full development at 80 days post-hatch (DPH).
The hard work paid off after four weeks, when the first juveniles settled into the branches of Acropora corals, marking a significant breakthrough in the breeding process. Shortly after settling, they developed their characteristic yellow coloration, a sight that excites any marine aquarist. Watching these tank-raised Okinawae gobies perch for food and interact within coral branches demonstrates the success of captive rearing techniques. They still exhibit a strong orange coloration due to their diet of enriched Artemia nauplii, but this will soon transition into their characteristic bright yellow.
This achievement highlights the potential for sustainable alternatives to wild-caught specimens, reducing pressure on fragile reef ecosystems while providing aquarists with healthier, hardier fish. The use of alternative larval rearing techniques is making it possible to culture smaller and more delicate species, paving the way for breakthroughs in marine ornamental aquaculture.
Encouraged by this success, De Jong Aquaculture is eager to scale up production, aiming to increase the availability of captive-bred fish in the trade. By refining breeding techniques and advancing marine aquaculture, they hope to make sustainable tank-bred alternatives more accessible to hobbyists worldwide, reducing the reliance on wild collection and contributing to ocean conservation.”
X-ray image.
Yellow clown gobies have been bred by other organizations, such as Proaquatix and MERS in France (which was then distributed by BIOTA). The offering of captive-bred okinawae has been inconsistent. I reached out to Michael O’Bryan from Proaquatix, and he told me.
“They are not a fish we currently produce. We have produced them in the past. Small egg cluster size and low hobbyist demand made them a species we could not afford to continue producing.”
I am unsure of MERS’s or anyone else’s production status. But given De Jong’s history, they’re likely candidates to provide consistent/commercialized batches of this species in the coming years. Here’s to another step towards a sustainable future for the hobby.
The text from De Jong was written by Tom Verhoeven the Head of Aquaculture and Science and Jonathan Simon the senior larval culture specialist. All images were taken by Jaimy Rooijakkers.
