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African algae-eating goby

Parasicydium bandama

Also known as Bandama goby

FreshwaterFish

African algae-eating goby (Parasicydium bandama)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Bandama River, Ivory Coast, West Africa

Overview

The African algae-eating goby is a small river goby from West Africa, a specialist grazer rather than a general community fish. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The African algae-eating goby is the lone African cousin of the algae-eating stream gobies that fill hobby tanks from Asia to the Pacific. Its genus holds just this one species.

Caring for the African algae-eating goby

Give a small group of African algae-eating gobies at least 14 gal (54 L), with plenty of current. Build a stream-style tank with a strong powerhead, smooth rounded rocks and gravel, and bright light to grow the algae film. Use an open layout of smooth stones that breaks up sight lines, since males hold small feeding patches.

Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and close to neutral, at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It needs brisk water movement and high oxygen. It grazes algae and picks tiny invertebrates from current-washed rock, so the hard surfaces need a mature algae film. Top up its grazing with sinking foods and a little frozen cyclops or brine shrimp.

The African algae-eating goby is peaceful and social, and it does best in a group of five or six. It stays on the bottom in the flow, so choose calm tank mates such as small rasboras that will not race it to the food.

It is amphidromous. Adults live and breed in fresh water, while the tiny larvae drift downstream to develop in brackish or marine water before returning upriver. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

Parasicydium bandama is a sicydiine goby in the family Oxudercidae, described by Risch in 1980. It is also known as the Bandama goby. Its narrow range leaves it uncommon and, in places, threatened by habitat loss.

In the wild

The African algae-eating goby lives in fast, clear, rocky rivers of West and Central Africa. The first specimens were taken from the Bandama River in Ivory Coast. Its warm, well-oxygenated home waters run over stone, and the fish clings to rock in the current while scraping the algal film.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The African algae-eating goby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an African algae-eating goby need?

An African algae-eating goby needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an African algae-eating goby need?

An African algae-eating goby is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does an African algae-eating goby eat?

An African algae-eating goby grazes the algae film and picks tiny invertebrates from rock. Top up its grazing with sinking foods and a little frozen cyclops or brine shrimp.

How big does an African algae-eating goby get?

An adult African algae-eating goby reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How does an African algae-eating goby breed?

The African algae-eating goby is amphidromous. Adults breed in fresh water, and the tiny larvae drift downstream to develop in brackish or marine water before returning upriver. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species