The Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby, Stonogobiops yasha, otherwise known as the Yasha Hashe Goby or Yasha Goby, is a unique goby easily identified by its white body and thick, red-orange horizontal lines and blotches, yellow fins, a black mark under the chin, and a very tall dorsal spine. The gender of these fish is easily determined; the males have black or brown tipped pelvic fins.

In the wild Yasha Gobies are found living in pairs and form a mutual symbiotic relationship with Alpheus randalli, the Candy Snapping Shrimp or Red Banded Snapping Shrimp, but may pair with the Tiger Snapping Shrimp, Alpheus bellullus, in captivity. A Yasha Goby does not require a snapping shrimp in captivity, but is never found without one (or a pair) in nature. The snapping shrimp provides shelter for the goby and itself by digging elaborate burrows in the substrate while the goby hovers nearby, watching for predators. The snapping shrimp has poor eyesight and keeps an antennae on the goby at all times, ready to dart into the burrow if the goby signals danger by quickly flicking its tail. Every evening the gobies and snapping shrimps retire to their burrow, and the shrimp seals off the exits. In the morning the gobies will emerge from the burrow and stand guard while the shrimp maintains the burrow; afterward they will forage for food.

The Yasha Goby should be housed in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons with only small, peaceful tank mates. A deep mixed-grade sand bed with plenty of rubble and crushed coral will be needed for the shrimp to build its burrow. The Yasha Goby is very shy and may hide for the first few weeks after being added to the aquarium. Frozen Mysis, brine shrimp, pellets, and most other foods are usually accepted by Yasha Gobies. The Yasha Goby is peaceful and may be kept with other shrimp-goby pairs as long as ample burrowing room is provided for each shrimp-goby pair.

Top photo by Greg Rothschild
Bottom photo by Felicia McCaulley

Minimum Tank Size:	30 Gallons
Care Level:	Easy
Temperament:	Peaceful
Reef Safe:	Yes
Water Parameters:	72-79° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.026
Max Size:	2.5"
Color:	White, Orange, Red, Yellow
Diet:	Carnivore
Origin:	Indonesia
Family:	Gobiidae

Felicia has been keeping aquariums since the early 90s and has a keen interest in taxonomy, aquaculture, and seahorses. she is the former Liveaquaria Diver's Den photographer and now works for Philadelphia area's largest aquarium specialty store The Hidden Reef.