Goby

Goby, any of the over 2,200 fish species in the suborder Gobioidei (order Perciformes). Gobies are carnivorous, small in size, and found all over the world. They are primarily marine in habit and are particularly abundant in the tropics. The majority of species live on the seafloor and have a weak suction cup formed by the fusion of their pelvic fins. 

The majority of species are members of the Gobiidae family. These are elongated, sometimes scaleless fishes found in tropical and temperate seas along shores and among reefs. Among their characteristics are two dorsal fins, the first with several weak spines; the absence of a lateral line (a series of small sense organs along the head and sides); and an absence of a lateral line and has a rounded tail.

Many are brightly coloured, and some, like the European crystal goby (Crystallogobius nilssoni), are transparent. Most adult gobiidae are 10 centimetres (4 inches) or less long; the Philippine Pandaka pygmaea, one of the smallest living vertebrates, is only about 13 millimetres (3/8 inch) long.

Many gobies, including the eastern Pacific's longjaw mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis), live in burrows in sand or mud, and some share burrows with other animals. The blind goby (Typhlogobius californiensis), a small, pink fish native to California, is an example of the latter. It lives intertidally in burrows dug by the ghost shrimp, Callianassa.

The neon goby (Elecatinus oceanops), a small Caribbean species with brilliant blue bands, exemplifies another type of association between gobies and other animals. It is one of several members of the genus that act as "cleaners," removing parasites from the bodies of larger fishes. Mudskippers (Periophthalmus) are amphibious creatures that live on mudflats in the Indo-Pacific and eastern Atlantic. The gobiidae, like the other members of the suborder, are egg-laying fish that commonly guard their eggs, which are attached to a shell, rock, or other such structure.

Other than the Gobiidae, the suborder includes the Eleotridae (sleepers), Microdesmidae (wormfishes), and Kraemeriidae (sand gobies).

Goby Fish and Its Types

Although freshwater and brackish goby species are not as numerous as their marine counterparts, many of them are well adapted to captivity. These amusing little fish will entertain you in your tank for years to come if you provide them with the proper environment.

Goby Basics

Gobiidae, the goby family, is one of the largest fish families, with over 2,000 species. The vast majority of these species are marine, but a few are found in brackish and even freshwater environments. Until recently, very few of these non-marine species were ever introduced into the aquarium hobby, but several new species have begun to appear in retail shops. Personally, I don't like giving saltwater people all the fun (they already get protein skimmers! ), so let's look at some of the different gobies that the rest of us can keep.

The vast majority of what are referred to as freshwater gobies are actually brackish (not all, just most). Brackish fishes are those that live in areas with varying salinity, such as estuaries, where marine and fresh water can freely mix. In these areas, salinity can vary seasonally or even hourly.

These fish do best in aquariums with a touch of marine salt in the water. They are typically kept at a specific gravity of 1.010 or less, with 1.004 being the most commonly cited value. To achieve this salinity, combine about a cup of marine salt with 5 gallons of water. Marine salt differs significantly from table salt or even road salt in that it contains many minerals other than sodium chloride that are essential for the health of brackish (or marine) fishes. The precise salinity, as well as minor fluctuations over time, are unimportant, but these brackish-water fishes will not thrive in pure fresh water.

Finally, there are many fish available under the common name "goby" that are not members of the Gobiidae family. Many of these are freshwater or brackish-water fishes, such as the "butterfly goby" or waspfish (Neovespicula depressifrons), various loach and catfish species, and sleeper gobies (in the family Eleotridae). The sleeper gobies are very similar and will be discussed here; the others, which are simply misnamed, will not.

Bumblebee Goby

The bumblebee goby was "the" goby in the hobby for a long time. It has actually become somewhat difficult to find in recent years. Bumblebee gobies (Brachygobius spp.) have black and orange stripes like a bumblebee. They are brackish-water species that will degrade in freshwater.

Bumblebees are made up of several closely related and similar-looking species. Most of them reach a height of about 2 inches. They make fascinating aquarium specimens, constantly bouncing around and clinging to surfaces, including the tank's side.

They should not be kept with larger species that might bother or pester them. They should not be kept with active, fast-moving species (e.g., danios) that will outcompete them for available food because they are slow movers. It may be difficult to train them to accept ready-to-eat foods. At first, live brine shrimp and blackworms may be required, followed by a transition to frozen foods. They may eventually accept flakes.

Dragon Goby

The dragon or violet goby (Gobioides broussonnetii) is one of the most unusual-looking fish you'll ever see. It has a serrated dorsal fin and translucent violet splashes on its sides and is roughly shaped like an eel. Tiny, beady eyes peer out from above a massive head. Despite its intimidating appearance, the dragon is quite calm.

Unfortunately, it is another brackish-water fish that is frequently kept in pure freshwater, which leads to its premature demise. Dragons are native to North America, and can be found in coastal estuaries from South Carolina to Brazil. They may be discovered here buried in sand or mud, sifting through it for food.

These fish can be extremely difficult to feed in an aquarium, and my personal recommendation is to leave them in the estuaries. They are nearly blind (those beady little eyes are pretty useless) and struggle to compete for food. They eat fine foods that have been sifted from both the water column and the substrate.

Because of their poor eyesight, they must essentially be target fed, and all too often, they simply starve in the aquarium. They can be fed successfully by literally dropping food on top of them: they appear to understand when food hits them in the face! Thawed frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, and other similar foods can be squirted at them with a turkey baster, or chunks of beefheart or other frozen foods can be dropped directly in front of them.

Knight Goby

The knight goby (Stigmatogobius sadanundio) is another classic goby that has been around for a long time. It's a beautiful fish with beautiful finnage, but it's not particularly colourful. Unlike the previous gobies, it can survive in fresh water and is frequently found in pure freshwater habitats in the wild, though it can also survive in brackish water. It also has a voracious appetite and will eat anything offered to it. Unfortunately, despite the amusing names, they cannot be kept with dragon gobies due to differences in water needs and dietary issues.

They appear to prefer hard, alkaline water and appear to suffer when the pH falls below about 7.4. Knight gobies are also very territorial; keep only one unless you have a fairly large tank. They can make interesting tankmates for less aggressive African cichlids, such as dwarf Tanganyikan cichlids.

The Desert Goby

The desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius) is a relatively new arrival from Australia. It is also the first of our true freshwater gobies, found in desert pools where it feeds heavily on aquatic crustaceans, insect larvae, and algae, filling a niche similar to desert pupfishes. It's a striking olive colour with black and blue highlights on the finnage.

Neon Goby

The freshwater neon goby or cobalt goby (Stiphodon atropurpureus) looks a lot like its more famous cousin. It is indigenous to Eastern Asia, where it can be found in brackish to freshwater. It is a small fish, only reaching about 2 inches in the aquarium. Because of its small size, it can be difficult to feed and may require small live foods such as Daphnia, dero worms, and brine shrimp at first. It should, however, eventually transition to frozen foods.

The Sleeper Gobies

Many different types of sleeper gobies are kept in aquariums on a regular basis. These are not true gobies, but rather members of the closely related Eleotridae family, as they lack the cup-like anal fins of true gobies.

The sleepers are a fascinating group of fish. Some types migrate from freshwater to marine habitats as they mature, while others appear to occur everywhere. Several of the species are native fishes.

Try a Goby

Gobies are a diverse group of fishes found all over the world in both marine and freshwater habitats. They are playful, antics-filled fish that live in the aquarium's bottom niche. While several easy-to-find brackish-water fishes have been around for a while, several new freshwater fishes are starting to appear, and this article only mentions a few. Although freshwater gobies are available at several online retailers and auction sites, finding them can be difficult.

If you happen to come across any true freshwater gobies, be sure to give one a try in your aquarium. Don't let those salty scum have all the fun.