Caledonian red nose goby

Lentipes kaaea

Also known as Kaaea goby

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.8
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: New Caledonia and Vanuatu streams
Family: Oxudercidae

Overview

This is one of the larger climbing stream gobies, an active bottom dweller that wants a fast, clean, high-energy tank. Peaceful and happiest in company, it wants a small group over cobbles and boulders, with displaying males given room to hold territory so quarrels stay to harmless posturing. It grazes biofilm and hunts small invertebrates in the current, so feed frozen and live foods such as cyclops, brine, and finely chopped bloodworm, and let algae and film build on the rockwork. Pair it only with calm, current-loving tankmates that will not bully it or strip the food first. Around 54 liters with vigorous flow and high oxygen suits a group.

In the wild

In the wild it holds fast, high-gradient streams and waterfall pools in New Caledonia and nearby Vanuatu, clinging to rock with its fused pelvic fins where the water is cool, clear, and tumbling. To rebuild that at home, use strong water movement, smooth boulders and gravel, and very clean water changed often. Settle the tank between 23 and 27 C and keep the pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, about 6.5 to 7.8.

Good to know

Lentipes kaaea is a sicydiine goby in the family Oxudercidae, described by Watson, Keith and Marquet in 2002. It reaches about 6 centimeters, large for the genus, and males can flush rosy about the head, the source of the red-nose name. It is amphidromous, with marine larvae and no established record of it spawning in aquaria. Its range covers New Caledonia and Vanuatu, with records extending east to Fiji and Futuna.

Did you know

The species name kaaea is not a description but a tribute: it honors Kaaea, a Napwe tribal chief in New Caledonia who allowed the collecting of freshwater fish on his community's land.

Tank mates

Caledonian red nose goby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.