Gobies for the Freshwater and Brackish Tank

Gobies from the Brachygobius genus, better known as bumblebee gobies, are small bottom-dwelling aquarium fish species prominently featuring a bee-like yellow and black striped pattern.

These unique creatures may not be the best choice for most community tanks due to their preference for brackish water conditions, making them difficult to maintain in more typical freshwater settings.

For those willing to put in the work and take on a little risk, bumblebee gobies make for an exciting addition. They have been raised by aquarists before with great success!

Aquarium enthusiasts will find this fish incredibly rewarding as they provide hours of entertainment while having unique behaviours not seen in other aquarium species.

Name

The common name "bumblebee gobies" or "bumblebee fish" often refers to one of Brachygobius sp. (B. xanthozona, B. doriae, B., nunus etc.).

*Most bumblebee gobies in fish stores are listed as Brachygobius xanthozona; unfortunately this is almost always a case of mislabeling and the species rarely if ever available

Natural Habitat

In the humid and salty water of estuaries, rivers, and streams in Indonesia (Java), Thailand, Vietnam. These fish are able to find plenty of hiding places among mangrove roots or fallen branches that lie on top of a muddy substrate with organic residues.

Wild bumblebee gobies can be found throughout Indonesia ( Java ), Sumatra, Borneo ) as well as parts of India. Here these little guys inhabit shallow habitats where they live amid brackish waters covered by mud or sand, which also has an abundance of plants for protection from predators such as larger fish who may want to eat them up!

Identification

These little fish are known for their yellow and black striped appearance, a short body shape that looks like a bumblebee. They're also smaller goby species with an average size of about 1-2 inches (3-4 cm).

Bumblebee gobies may look small in stature, but they pack quite the punch! These cute little guys get their common name from looking just like a bumblebee - bright stripes and all!

The Brachygobius genus is very difficult to distinguish between because they are all almost identical.

Males can be differentiated from females by their more slender body shape and brighter colouration.

Requirements

Bumblebee gobies are not the best fish for a community aquarium as they will be quickly outcompeted by more assertive species and can even die of starvation. Bumblebees do their best when kept in brackish water at low salinity (a range between 1.002 and 1.006).

These fish stay very small, so there is no need to set up a large aquarium. For decent-sized groups, at least 10 gallons (38 L), with plenty of floor space should be enough for them. 

The tank should always be fully cycled before adding any new inhabitants, but water filtration can remain weak; these animals naturally live in calm waters and may not respond well if the current gets too strong!

Tankmates

Bumblebee Gobies are often difficult to find tank mates for because they live in brackish water habitats. This means that the range of possible companions is relatively small, so it's important to do your research before adding a new fish into an existing community.

The Bumblebee Goby is a peaceful fish that can live in harmony with other species. They only show aggression to defend territory or mates, but even then fighting rarely results in injury!

FOOD

Bumblebee Gobies are carnivores and need to eat meat. They prefer brine shrimp, tubifex worms, or bloodworms for their diet but anything would do as long as it's a little more novel than what they're used to.

You can opt for live, frozen food, or freeze-dried. Take note though: it will be much easier to get them eating the live food!

You can make your bumblebee goby feel right at home with the following aquatic invertebrate foods: Daphnia, Tubifex, Brine shrimp, Copepods and Grindle worms.

Breeding

These fish are incredibly fascinating. They come in a variety of colours and patterns depending on the region they live in, but when it comes to breeding habits- these creatures make for an awesome spectacle!

Territorial Males:

The males in the Bumblebee Goby species are particularly interesting to watch. Each male establishes a territory of his own and spends most of his time chasing other fish away from it, which makes for an entertaining show!

Encouraging Them to Breed

When your Bumblebee Gobies are ready to breed, the males will take a prime spot in their cave and guard it against other fish. The female has a special talent for choosing these spots wisely as they know that she needs a safe place if her eggs want to survive.

When you look at your tank of Bumblebee Gobies, which usually act like one happy family most of the time you might notice some warning signs: females start swelling up around the belly area while all eyes are on them! There won't be more babies anytime soon but rather just an extraordinary pregnancy where we can witness how much care is put into making sure this little egg survives inside its mother's womb until its birthday arrives.

To encourage your Bumblebee Gobies to mate, just pour some fresh water into the tank. As they hear the rain on the roof of a home that is only water in this time of year - it will convince them it's finally raining and breeding season has begun!

To do this, the male will escort the female to his cave or hideout where she will lay her eggs. Once they're laid, he'll fertilize them and then guard over them until they hatch after four to nine days have passed. 

Telling a Bumblebee Goby's gender is easy thanks in part because there are two different ones: males tend to be brighter and more slender while females can vary depending on whether or not they're full of eggs! As breeding gets closer for both genders though, it becomes even easier with males becoming much brighter than before so as to catch a female’s attention during mating season.

Fun Facts 

The Bumblebee Goby is a small fish that needs some same-species friends in order to get along. They can be aggressive when they are kept with other animals, but adding the correct species of animal will make them more peaceful and less antagonistic towards others. The school pattern helps keep it happy so you don't have to deal with any trouble from this little guy!

Bumblebee Gobies, not wanting to be left behind by their fishy friends with swim bladders can only scoot along the bottom of the tank. The lack of a bladder makes it so it cannot rise up as quickly and easily as other fish in water tanks do.

The bumblebee goby is one of the smallest freshwater fish with adults only reaching two inches in length. These little guys are so small that they are often found living among algae, but this species can also adapt to life on land and sand bottoms or even dry surfaces like rocks!

In the wild, it is often rain that encourages them to breed. They turn out in droves when water becomes less brackish but are more likely to find a safe hideout or cave with which they can lay their eggs amongst other species' nests if too many of those animals are present around the same area and time period.