Watchman Goby

Pattaya Aquatic Life

Watchman Goby Pattaya

Learn about Watchman Goby Around Pattaya

The Watchman Goby, a small but fascinating fish, is commonly found in the sandy and muddy bottoms of Pattaya’s dive sites. Known for their symbiotic relationships with burrowing shrimp, these gobies are an intriguing species to observe, often seen standing guard at the entrance of their shared burrows.

Where to Find Watchman Goby in Pattaya

Watchman Gobies can be found at almost every dive site around Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand, particularly in areas with sandy and muddy substrates where they can easily dig burrows.

How to Identify Different Types of Watchman Goby

Identifying a Watchman Goby involves noting their distinctive features:

Body Coloration: Typically have a pale body with distinct markings, such as spots or bands, often yellow, brown, or blue.
Eye Position: Prominent eyes positioned high on the head, providing a good view of their surroundings.
Dorsal Fin: A long dorsal fin that runs almost the entire length of their body.
Size: Generally small, averaging between 5-10 cm in length.

Watchman Goby Characteristics & Behaviour

Anemone shrimps exhibit several interesting characteristics and behaviors:

Symbiotic Relationship: These shrimps live in a mutualistic relationship with sea anemones, gaining protection from predators while providing cleaning services by eating parasites and dead tissue.
Camouflage: Their coloration often mimics the tentacles of their host anemones, providing excellent camouflage.
Feeding: Anemone shrimps feed on small particles of food that drift by, as well as parasites and algae on their host anemone.
Territorial Behavior: They are known to defend their host anemone aggressively from intruders and other anemone shrimps.

Interesting Facts About Watchman Goby

Diverse Species: There are several species of anemone shrimps, including the popular Sexy Shrimp (Thor amboinensis) and the Pacific Clown Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis).
Sexual Dimorphism: In some species, males and females have different sizes and color patterns, making them easy to distinguish.
Molting: Anemone shrimps periodically molt, shedding their exoskeleton to grow, during which they are more vulnerable to predators.
Cleaning Stations: Some anemone shrimps act as cleaners, removing parasites and dead skin from fish that visit their host anemones.