Lizard Goby
Rhinogobius flumineus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 18–25 °C
Species profile
Knight Goby
Stigmatogobius sadanundio
Common names: Knight Goby, Spotted Goby, Goby
Recognized speciesGobies
Adult size
Up to 9 cm
Up to 9 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A peaceful community tank with similar-sized fish
Think carefully if
- You keep smaller fish, which it may eat
- You keep slow fish with long fins, which it may nip
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A pale goby covered in black spots, also called the Spotted or Knight Goby. Keep a group of at least 1 in 68 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A pale goby covered in black spots, also called the Spotted or Knight Goby. It prefers slightly brackish water, and it eats fish small enough to swallow.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Males are often more colourful, with longer fins.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 140–200 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 68 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 4
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Lightly planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide caves, pebbles and shelter on the bottom, and a good lid, because some gobies can climb or jump.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Spends much of its time resting on the bottom, and darts short distances, often claiming a small territory.
Can usually be kept in a small group if each fish has its own shelter.
Males often defend a small home range.
Best with small, peaceful fish, or in a species tank, because it may struggle to compete for food. It may nip the fins of slow or long-finned fish, and a larger group usually reduces this. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Small frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimpMany gobies refuse dried food at first.
- Small live foodsUseful for tempting new fish to feed.
Most prefer small live and frozen foods.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Cave Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- Variable
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpThe fry can usually take this from the start.
- Crushed flakeA simple addition as they grow.
Spawns inside a cave, and one parent guards the eggs and young. Provide a suitable cave for each pair.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand
- Natural habitat
- Brackish Water, Estuary
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Stigmatogobius
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gobies
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Marbled Sleeper Goby
Oxyeleotris marmorata
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 65 cm
- Minimum tank
- 540 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Palauan Riffle Dwarf Goby
Stiphodon pelewensis
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Rainbow Stiphodon Goby
Stiphodon ornatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C