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The monster shrimpgoby, a relatively infrequently seen species in Lembeh Strait. While less extravagent than some other species, there is a more subtle beauty to this fish and the pattern is gorgeous
 

When asked to conjur up wishlists for critters in the world-famous Lembeh Strait, subjects like hairy frogfish, blue-ringed octopuses, and pygmy seahorses likely are first and foremost in photographers’ minds. However, Lembeh hosts a huge diversity of a much more overlooked subject—the humble shrimpgoby. Dozens and dozens of species inhabit the black sand slopes, rubble patches, and reef edges in the Strait; some species litter every dive site, while others require years of searching to hunt down.

Shrimpgobies are so-called because they live in commensal relationships with—you guessed it!—shrimps. These crustaceans design and build the burrow and keep it clean while the gobies stand watch. The shrimps are largely blind and, as such, must remain in physical contact with their gobies at all times. The shrimps keep an antenna constantly touching the fish so that if the fish bolts down into the burrow at the sign of danger, the shrimp can follow suit and isn’t sitting out exposed.

The diversity of shapes, patterns, and colors to be found among the shrimpgoby species in the Lembeh Strait is staggering, and a photographer can spend countless dives shooting nothing but these charismatic little fish. Generally, they are quite shy so longer macro lenses will be your friend and a shallow depth of field to help separate the fish from unappealing surroundings are your two biggest keys to successfully creating portraits of shrimpgobies. Next time you’re in Lembeh, spend some time photographing these fish and you may develop a new obsession!
 

One of the more sought-after shrimpgoby species in Lembeh is the rayed shrimpgoby. Many species have wonderfully extravagent fins that add to their photographic appeal
 

Yasha’s shrimpgoby is not only a stunningly beautiful fish, it also happens to be one of the rarer shrimpgoby species in the Lembeh Strait. Fortunately, if one is found, it tends to remain in the area for a while
 

Another image of a displaying Yasha’s shrimpgoby—with its shrimp companion. While the gobies are obviously diverse, there seem to be only a few shrimp species that form this relationship with the fish
 

An as-yet-undescribed species of shrimpgoby that has thus far been found only in Lembeh. The black trim on the pectoral fins is the defining characteristic and the key identifier
 

A black-rayed shrimpgoby and his partner shrimp. There are several species of shrimpgoby in Lembeh that look very, very similar and identifying them comes down to very specific characteristics. The black-rayed is identified from the similar species by the spear-like front spine on that dorsal fin
 

Randall’s shrimpgoby is one of the more easily recognizable and quickly identifiable species. The orange bands and large dorsal fin with big black spot are characteristics of the species. A quick tip: Many shrimpgobies have these large dorsal fins and while they aren’t always showing, if you are patient, often they will raise and lower them now and again, giving you the opportunity to capture the fin in all its glory
 

A close-up portrait of a blotchy shrimpgoby. Shallow depth of field will be your friend for these fish. They are relatively laterally compressed so the whole flank of the fish will be in focus even at wider apertures. If you look closely, you can see this individual has a white copepod latched onto its side
 

A wider look at a regally-perched blotchy shrimpgoby. Normally, these fish remain on the sand so catching one perched up above the bottom or hovering in the water column are opportunities that should absolutely be taken advantage of photographically
 

A slantbar shrimpgoby. Even the more “bland” species are beautiful. Pokemon fans might think of capturing shrimpgoby images like capturing all the Pokemon! There are so many and some are easy, some are much more difficult, but all are fantastic little beasts
 

Perhaps the most famous of all shrimpgobies is the aptly-named magnificent shrimpgoby. That incredible fin comes in a variety of colors—from tan to red to orange to yellow. The little nostrils add to the overall photographic appeal of this fish. You can just barely make out the nose and antennae of its roommate—bottom right
 

The flagtail shrimpgoby usually hides its namesake tail in the burrow, maintaining contact with his or her shrimp. A challenge with shrimpgoby photography is finding an angle on the fish without distracting elements, especially bright bits of sand or shell. Plan your compositions carefully and try to ensure you catch any such distractions in the moment—not later on the computer
 

The yellow shrimpgoby (a bit of a misnomer as they come in a number of different colors) is arguably the most common shrimpgoby species in Lembeh. They are quite large, reaching five to six inches long and, unlike many of the other species, are much less shy and frequently will allow a close approach if care is taken
 

A spectacular threadfin shrimpgoby on full display. This is THE type of image to strive for with shrimpgobies. All the fins splayed out, a non-distracting background, and a beautiful, soft light. Sometimes, you just need to show off a beautiful animal for the sake of showing off a beautiful animal!