Bird Song Goby
Stiphodon surrufus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
Bar Cheek Goby
Rhinogobius giurinus
Common names: Bar Cheek 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 mature, stable aquarium
Think carefully if
- Your tank is newly set up
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A hardy goby from China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, with bars on the cheek. Keep alone or in a small group in 54 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A hardy goby from China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, with bars on the cheek. It prefers cool, flowing water, and it can be territorial as it grows.
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 110–160 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
- 2
- Recommended group size
- 2
- 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 is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable. This fish prefers cooler water than most tropical fish, and it may not need a heater in a warm room.
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
- Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam
- Natural habitat
- Brackish Water, Estuary, Freshwater Stream
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Rhinogobius
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gobies
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Blue Neon Goby
Stiphodon atropurpureus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Bumblebee Goby
Brachygobius doriae
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Cobalt Blue Goby
Stiphodon semoni
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C