Bumble Bee Goby Brachigobius Zanthozona 3cm

Overview

The Bumblebee Goby is a tiny bottom-dwelling fish banded in yellow and black that hops between perches rather than swimming freely, watching everything with large eyes. Fish sold under this name are almost always Brachygobius doriae, from the mangrove swamps and tidal streams of Borneo and neighbouring Southeast Asia. It suits keepers of small brackish or hard-water tanks who can supply live foods.

• Adult Size: Around 3.5–4 cm (1.5 in)
• Lifespan: 3–4 years

Origin

• Native to: Borneo, Indonesia and Malay Peninsula coastal lowlands
• Habitat: Mangrove swamps, estuaries, tidal streams and some peat swamps

Feeding

• Diet: Carnivorous; micro-predator of tiny invertebrates
• Preferred Foods: Live brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm, frozen cyclops, mosquito larvae
• Feeding Habits: Small feeds daily; ignores dried foods, sometimes accepts frozen

Tank Mates

• Best with: Own kind in groups of six or more; brackish snails
• Avoid: Fast feeders, mollies, large gobies, anything that outcompetes them at feeding

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful but timid
• Territoriality: Males claim small caves and spar harmlessly with rivals

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Challenges: Needs live food; hard, brackish water; easily outcompeted; often starves in communities

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Brackish or hard alkaline freshwater
• Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
• pH: 7.0–8.5
• Hardness: 8–20 dGH
• Flow: Slow
• Salinity: 1.002–1.010 SG
• Tank Size: Minimum 40 litres for a group of six; sand base and many small caves

Final Notes

These gobies stay tiny but rarely thrive in a busy community, so a species tank with shells, tubes and sand is the surest route. Males turn reddish and spawn in small caves, guarding 100 to 200 eggs for around a week, and fry need microscopic foods. Gravid females look noticeably rounder. Settled in a calm, hard-water tank with regular live food, they become bold, inquisitive and endlessly watchable.