Chiangmai stream goby

Rhinogobius chiengmaiensis

Also known as Chiengmaiensis goby

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–75°F (18–24°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Ping basin, northern Thailand
Family: Oxudercidae

Overview

This is a cool-water stream goby that should be kept without a heater in most homes, since it comes from hill streams rather than warm lowlands. It is calm and sociable; keep a small group over gravel, pebbles, and stones with caves and crevices, giving territorial males a hollow or doorway each to display around. It stays on the bottom and feeds as a small predator, so offer frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, brine, and small crustaceans, plus sinking micro pellets. Pick calm, cool-tolerant companions rather than warm-water community fish. A 54 liter tank with gentle to moderate flow and clean water works well for a group.

In the wild

In the wild it lives in cool hill streams of the upper Chao Phraya system in northern Thailand, including the Ping and Nan rivers, over gravel, rock, and exposed bedrock that sees seasonal swings in flow. To mimic it, use a flowing tank with a pebble and boulder bed, hiding spots between stones, and unheated, well-oxygenated water. Keep it on the cool side, about 18 to 24 C, and neutral to slightly alkaline, roughly pH 7.0 to 8.0.

Good to know

Rhinogobius chiengmaiensis is a member of the family Oxudercidae, described by Fowler in 1934 and named for Chiang Mai province, its home region. It reaches about 5 centimeters and feeds on insect larvae, small shrimp, and tiny fish. Males are territorial and spar with raised fins. It is a stream resident rather than an ocean migrant, and there is no established aquarium breeding record; the species is considered vulnerable in the wild.

Did you know

It is a Thai fish that does not want a tropical tank. Its mountain streams stay cool the year round, so keeping it as warm as a typical community fish shortens its life, and an unheated tank suits it far better.