Red Spot Tail Goby - Trimma caudomaculatum

Red Spot Tail Goby (Trimma caudomaculatum)

The Red Spot Tail Goby, Trimma caudomaculatum, is a tiny, peaceful marine pygmy goby with a delicate translucent body, subtle blue markings and a distinctive dark to reddish tail spot. Also known as the Blotch-tailed Pygmygoby, Red Spot Tail Pygmy Goby or Tailspot Trimma Goby, this small Western Pacific reef fish is ideal for mature nano reefs and peaceful coral aquariums. It is reef safe, attractive and naturally social, but it needs calm tank mates, fine foods and stable water quality because of its very small size.

Common Name:
Red Spot Tail Goby, Red Spot Tail Pygmy Goby, Tailspot Trimma Goby, Blotch-tailed Pygmygoby, Red-tailed Pygmy Goby.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Trimma caudomaculatum

Maximum Size:
Usually around 2–3 cm, with larger specimens reaching just over 3 cm.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Western Pacific, including reef regions around southern Japan, Okinawa, Palau and nearby island areas. Naturally found around coral reef edges, sloping drop-offs, rubble zones and vertical reef faces, where it hovers close to shelter in small groups or loose aggregations.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.023–1.025

Temperament:
Very peaceful and timid. Best kept with tiny, calm reef-safe fish that will not bully it or outcompete it at feeding time. Avoid aggressive damsels, dottybacks, hawkfish, large wrasses, predatory gobies and fast-feeding fish in small aquariums.

Diet:
Carnivorous micro-predator and planktivore. In the aquarium, offer very small foods such as copepods, cyclops, calanus, enriched brineshrimp, finely chopped mysis, rotifers, lobster eggs and quality marine micro pellets. Small regular feeds are best, as this species has a tiny mouth and can lose condition if food is too large or too infrequent.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 40 litres is suitable for a single specimen or small group in a stable specialist nano reef, with 60–90 litres or more preferred for better water stability and a more natural group display.

Behaviour & Activity:
A tiny hoverer that spends much of its time perched or suspended just above rockwork, rubble, coral branches and shaded reef structure. It is usually more confident in a small group than kept singly, provided the aquarium has enough small territories and hiding places. In nature, Trimma gobies often hover vertically or at an angle close to the substrate and dart into cover when alarmed.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe
Safe with corals and most peaceful ornamental invertebrates. It does not nip corals or disturb reef structure. Very tiny planktonic crustaceans may be eaten as part of its natural diet, but it is generally compatible with snails, hermit crabs, cleaner shrimps and typical peaceful reef livestock.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, peaceful aquarium with stable water quality, fine branching rockwork, caves, ledges and gentle to moderate flow. Cover pump intakes, overflow slots and weirs in nano systems, as these fish are extremely small. A secure lid is recommended, as small gobies can jump when startled. This species may be confused with other Trimma pygmy gobies, so exact identification should be based on tail marking, body pattern and supplier information.

Suitable for:
Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade / Captive-bred where relevant

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.