Cobalt Blue Goby
Stiphodon semoni
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
Bumblebee Goby
Brachygobius doriae
Common names: Bumblebee Goby, Golden-banded Goby
Recognized speciesGobies
Adult size
Up to 3.5 cm
Up to 3.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A small, well-kept nano tank
- A dedicated tank built around this one fish
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
A tiny, chunky goby with yellow and black bands, like a bumblebee. Keep a group of at least 5 in 40 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A tiny, chunky goby with yellow and black bands, like a bumblebee. It prefers slightly hard to brackish water and small live or frozen food, and it is best kept in a species tank.
Several similar species are sold under this name, and they are hard to tell apart.
Males are often more colourful, with longer fins.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–200 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- 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 eat baby shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
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
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Brackish Water, Estuary, Freshwater Stream, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Nano Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Brachygobius
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gobies
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Golden-red Stiphodon
Stiphodon rutilaureus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Knight Goby
Stigmatogobius sadanundio
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Lizard Goby
Rhinogobius flumineus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 18–25 °C