Dragon Goby / Violet Goby (Gobioides broussonnetii)

The Dragon Goby looks like something dredged out of a deep-sea trench — up to two feet of eel-like, iridescent violet-and-slate body finished with a wide, toothy jaw. It's all bluff. This brackish-leaning giant goby is nearly blind and completely gentle: a dedicated sand-sifter that scoops up mouthfuls of substrate, filters out biofilm, worms, and leftover morsels, and puffs the clean sand back out through its gills.

Give it a deep bed of soft sand to work, brackish-leaning water long-term, calm tankmates that won't steal its food, and meaty sinking fare it can find by feel — and the "monster" settles in as one of the most peaceful oddballs in the hobby.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: 15–24" · Min tank: 55+ gal, brackish · Diet: Omnivore/filter-feeder — sinking meaty and frozen foods sifted from sand