Desert goby
Chlamydogobius eremius
Also known as Australian desert goby, Lake Eyre goby
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Endemic to the Lake Eyre drainage of arid central and southern Australia, in artesian springs, bore drains and shallow desert streams.
Overview
Keep a small colony of one male with two or three females in a tank of 60 litres or more at 18 to 28 C with a hard, alkaline pH of 7.0 to 8.5. Provide rocks, caves and flowerpots as spawning sites and territories. It is hardy and peaceful enough for a species tank or a hard water community with other small, calm fish. Feed frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp along with some algae based foods.
In the wild
The desert goby survives in some of the harshest fish habitats on earth, the springs and bore drains of central Australia, where water can be hot, salty and low in oxygen. It is a small, stocky bottom dweller that perches on rocks and sand. A tank of 60 litres with sand, rocks and caves and hard, alkaline water suits it well. It does not need a heater in most rooms and tolerates a very wide range of conditions.
Good to know
Chlamydogobius eremius is one of the few fishes adapted to Australia's desert spring systems and is remarkably tough. It can tolerate temperatures from roughly 5 to 41 C, a pH up to about 10, salinity from fresh to well above seawater, and very low oxygen, even gulping air at the surface. Males turn dark with bright blue and yellow fin edges when breeding.
Did you know
It is one of the easiest gobies to breed, with the male guarding eggs laid on the roof of a cave and fanning them until they hatch as fully formed fry.
Common questions
What size tank does a Desert goby need?
A Desert goby needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Desert goby need?
A Desert goby is comfortable at 64–82°F (18–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.
How big does a Desert goby get?
An adult Desert goby reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
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