Scissor Tail Goby

The Graceful Hoverer: Scissor Tail Goby Tip: Schooling and helps encourage other schooling fish like Anthias to school The Scissor Tail Goby (Ptereleotris evides)—frequently called the Scissor-tail Dartfish or Blackfin Dartfish—is an elegant, torpedo-shaped fish found throughout the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. Though classified loosely with gobies, it belongs to the dartfish family, a group known for hovering effortlessly in open water just above the safety of the substrate. With its subtle gradients and unique fin structure, it adds refined beauty and active motion to peaceful marine aquariums. Key Characteristics & Behaviors: Ombré Shading and "Scissor" Tail: The coloration of the Scissor Tail Goby is a lesson in understated elegance. The front half of the body is a pale, shimmering blue-gray or silver, which gradually darkens into a deep, smoky black or dark purple toward the rear. Its most defining feature is its deeply forked caudal fin, which resembles a pair of open scissors. Large, prominent dorsal and anal fins complement this striking silhouette. The Dart and Hide Strategy: These fish are built for speed but are naturally timid. In the wild, they hover a few feet above the bottom to catch drifting plankton. If a predator approaches, they live up to their "dartfish" moniker, shooting backward with lightning speed into a nearby bolt hole, rock crevice, or sand burrow. Peaceful Schooling Dynamics: Unlike many territorial marine fish, Scissor Tail Gobies are highly social with their own kind. While a single individual may stay hidden and stressed, they thrive when kept in pairs or small groups. In an aquarium, a group will hover together in the water column, moving in unison against the current. Planktonic Feeding Requirements: As open-water carnivores, their diet centers on microscopic foods drifting through the water. They will not graze on rocks or sift sand. Instead, they require regular feedings of frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, marine copepods, and high-quality flakes or pellets swept up in the tank’s water flow. Species Overview Scientific Name: Ptereleotris evides Maximum Size: Approximately 4 to 5 inches (10–12 cm) Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for a single specimen or pair; 55+ gallons for a small group Reef Compatibility: Completely reef-safe; they do not bother corals, clams, or invertebrates The Ultimate Dartfish Warning: If there is one absolute rule for keeping Scissor Tail Gobies, it is that your aquarium must have a tight-fitting lid. These fish are notorious jumpers. When startled by a sudden shadow, a hand entering the tank, or a boisterous tank mate, their default defense mechanism is to shoot upward. Without a secure mesh or glass cover, they can easily launch themselves out of the aquarium.