TankBud

Desert goby

Chlamydogobius eremius

Also known as Australian desert goby, Lake Eyre goby

FreshwaterFish

Desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius)
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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
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Cave spawner · 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

The desert goby is a hardy little goby from central Australia for a tank with hard, alkaline water. It is a good first fish.

Did you know

The desert goby can tolerate temperatures from roughly 5 to 41°C and a pH up to about 10. It also handles salinity from fresh to well above seawater, and very low oxygen, even gulping air at the surface.

Caring for the desert goby

Keep desert gobies in at least 16 gal (60 L), with sand, rocks and caves. Add flowerpots as well, so there are plenty of spawning sites and territories.

Give them hard, alkaline water at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5. They tolerate a very wide range of conditions and do not need a heater in most rooms. Feed frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, along with some algae-based foods.

Keep a small colony of one male with two or three females. Desert gobies are peaceful enough for a species tank or a hard water community with other small, calm fish.

Desert gobies are among the easiest gobies to breed. Males turn dark with bright blue and yellow fin edges when breeding. Eggs are laid on the roof of a cave, and the male guards and fans them until they hatch as fully formed fry.

Good to know

Chlamydogobius eremius is a small, stocky member of the family Gobiidae. It is one of the few fishes adapted to Australia's desert spring systems, and it is remarkably tough.

In the wild

The desert goby is endemic to the Lake Eyre drainage of arid central and southern Australia. It lives in artesian springs, bore drains and shallow desert streams, some of the harshest fish habitats on earth. The water there can be hot, salty and low in oxygen. It is a bottom dweller that perches on rocks and sand.

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.

What does a desert goby eat?

A desert goby eats frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. Give it some algae-based foods as well.

How big does a desert goby get?

An adult desert goby reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How can you tell a male desert goby from a female?

Males turn dark, with bright blue and yellow fin edges, when they are breeding.

How does a desert goby breed?

A desert goby spawns in a cave, where eggs are laid on the roof and the male guards and fans them. The eggs hatch as fully formed fry, and it is one of the easiest gobies to breed.

Related species