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Butterfly shrimpgoby

Vanderhorstia papilio

Butterfly shrimpgoby© FishBase (CC BY-NC)

The Butterfly shrimpgoby (Vanderhorstia papilio) is a tiny, brightly patterned marine goby reaching just 4.1 cm. It inhabits coral rubble and reef crevices in tropical Indo-Pacific waters and is prized by aquarium hobbyists rather than anglers.

Fight
Taste
Inedible/Protected

Basic Information

Family

Gobiidae

Max Size

4.1 cm

Habitat

marine

Depth Range

5-55m

Climate

temperate

Best Season

Warm tropical months (June-September) but can be caught year-round in equatorial waters

Best Time

Early morning or late afternoon when small prey are active

Distribution

Select a map type to show distribution on the globe.

Fishing Tips for Butterfly shrimpgoby

  • Use a micro-float setup with a 2-3 lb test line to detect subtle bites.
  • Target shallow reef flats and coral rubble where the goby hides, probing crevices gently.
  • Offer live micro-shrimp or copepods as bait; the species is a picky micro-predator.
  • Keep the hook size ultra-small (size 12-14) and retrieve the line very slowly to avoid spooking the fish.

Market Prices

Recommended Fishing Equipment for Butterfly shrimpgoby

Recommended Equipment

RodUltralight 2-3 ft spinning rod, fast action
Line2-4 lb test fluorocarbon
Lure TypeMicro soft-plastic shrimp or tiny jig
TechniqueMicro float/fine jigging in shallow reef habitats

Best bait: Live micro shrimp, copepods, or tiny pieces of krill