Red Spotted Goby
Rhinogobius rubromaculatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C
Species profile
Red Lipstick Goby
Sicyopus exallisquamulus
Common names: Red Lipstick Goby
Recognized speciesGobies
Adult size
Up to 5.2 cm
Up to 5.2 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A mature, stable aquarium
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
- You keep smaller fish, which it may eat
- Your tank is newly set up
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A small, bright red goby from the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, sold as the Red Lipstick Goby. Keep a group of at least 5 in 54 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A small, bright red goby from the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, sold as the Red Lipstick Goby. It needs strong flow, plenty of oxygen and a tight lid, and it does best in a mature tank with algae-covered stones.
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 220–270 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 54 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- High
- 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 is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings.
Parameter caveat
Add this fish only to a mature, fully cycled tank, and keep up regular water changes.
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
- Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Stream
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Sicyopus
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gobies
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Whitecheek Goby
Rhinogobius duospilus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 15–25 °C
Zhou’s Scarlet Goby
Rhinogobius zhoui
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 19–24 °C
Bar Cheek Goby
Rhinogobius giurinus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C