Brahm's Dwarfgoby

Eviota brahmi

Also known as Brahm's Nano Goby, Brahm's Goby

SaltwaterFish

Brahm's Dwarfgoby (Eviota brahmi) — Biota · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 0.8 in (2 cm)
Minimum tank: 5 gal (19 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Reef safe: Reef safe
Origin: Western Pacific (Papua New Guinea)
Family: Gobiidae

Overview

Expect a shy first week or two, then regular appearances at a few favorite perches once it trusts the room. It is peaceful, fine singly or in a small group, and eats small pellets, Calanus, and other fine meaty foods. House it with nano-sized, mild tankmates rather than anything large enough to eat it.

In the wild

This species is known from reefs around Papua New Guinea, including New Hanover, New Ireland, and New Britain, from the surface to about 20 meters. Given a pocket of slow water it will hover just off the rock instead of sitting on it, which is unusual among dwarfgobies. A small tank with plenty of cover and gentle flow helps a new fish settle in.

Good to know

Greenfield and Tornabene described the species in 2014 from New Hanover, Papua New Guinea. It is named for Brahm Kai Erdmann, who recognized that these fish had been passing under the name Eviota nigriventris in the scientific literature. A single red-orange stripe bordered in white runs along the body, and both sexes carry an elongated dorsal fin.

Did you know

It entered the hobby directly as a captive-bred fish, reaching aquarium tanks through Biota's Palau hatchery within a decade of receiving its scientific name.