The Bumblebee Goby (Brachygobius spp., with Brachygobius doriae being the most common in the hobby) is a small, bottom-dwelling fish known for its striking black and yellow striped pattern and territorial personality.
Here is the complete fact sheet for keeping them healthy:
Fact Sheet: Bumblebee Goby (Brachygobius doriae / B. xanthozonus)
Parameter | Value / Requirement |
Scientific Name | Brachygobius doriae (and closely related species) |
Origin | Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand) |
Adult Size | 1.4 to 1.6 inches (3.5 to 4 cm) |
Lifespan | Around 3 years |
Minimum Tank Size | 10 gallons (40 liters) for a small group |
Temperament | Territorial with its own kind; peaceful but shy with others |
Water Column Position | Bottom-dweller (often perches on decor, rocks, and glass) |
Difficulty | Moderate (due to specific feeding and water requirements) |
Water Parameters
While often sold as freshwater fish, most imported Bumblebee Gobies thrive much better and live longer in brackish water.
Temperature: 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F).
pH: 7.2 to 8.5 (alkaline).
Hardness (GH): Medium to hard (9 to 19 dGH).
Salinity (Highly Recommended): Mildly brackish. Aim for a specific gravity (SG) of 1.002 to 1.005. Use marine salt (not aquarium salt or table salt)—about 2 to 5 grams per liter.
Note: True freshwater variants exist (B. xanthomelas / sabanus), but keeping them in low-end brackish water is the safest bet if you do not know the exact species.
Feeding (The Biggest Challenge)
Bumblebee Gobies are strict carnivores and visual hunters. They rarely accept dry flakes or pellets.
Live Foods (Best): Baby brine shrimp (artemia), daphnia, microworms, or mosquito larvae.
Frozen Foods: Bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, or mysis shrimp.
Tip: To get them to eat frozen food, the food must drift in the filter current. If it falls to the bottom and stays still, they will ignore it.
Behavior & Compatibility
These are curious bottom-dwellers that spend their day perching on rocks, leaves, or hovering near the substrate.
Territoriality: Males defend small territories (caves, tubes, or crevices) fiercely. Provide plenty of visual barriers to prevent constant fighting.
Tankmates:
Because they are small and slow feeders, faster fish (like danios or barbs) will outcompete them for food, leading to starvation.
Good choices (for brackish setups): Guppies, Mollies, or keeping them in a species-only tank in a group of 6 or more to disperse aggression.
Tank Setup & Decor
Substrate: Fine sand only. Avoid coarse or sharp gravel. They spend all their time on the bottom and can easily scratch their delicate bellies and pelvic fins (which they use as suction cups to perch).
Hiding Spots: You must provide plenty of caves, clay pots, coconut shells, or ceramic pipes. The more secure they feel, the more active and visible they will be.
Plants: Java Fern and Anubias can tolerate the low salinity levels required for these gobies.