Cleaner fishes remove ectoparasites, injured tissue, mucus and scales from the body surface of other fishes. This habit is important for the maintenance and health of reef fish species. This feeding behaviour is recorded for about 100 fish species of 19 families. Gobiidae stands out among cleaner fishes as it contains a large number of species that presents this specialised habit. This study records oophagy, a previously unknown feeding behaviour for the gobiid Elacatinus figaro, a specialised cleaner. This behaviour was recorded during snorkelling (2 m depth) in a tide pool of the Serrambi beach, localized to the south of Pernambuco state. Although several species of the genus Tropical Oceanography, Recife, v. 32, n. 2, p. 135-142, 2004.