TankBud

Discord goby

Sicyopus discordipinnis

Also known as Discordipinnis goby

FreshwaterFish

Discord goby (Sicyopus discordipinnis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
New Guinea streams

Overview

The discord goby is a tiny, quick stone-hopping goby for a fast stream tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The discord goby was first found in New Guinea, but it has since turned up much farther west in Sulawesi. That spread hints at how far its sea-drifting larvae can travel.

Caring for the discord goby

A small group of discord gobies needs at least 14 gal (54 L), with brisk current and high oxygen. A powerhead gives it strong flow, and rounded boulders and cobbles give it perches and cover. Keep a tight lid, since these gobies climb.

Run the water warm and very clean, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8, and change it often. It looks like an algae grazer, but treat it as a micro-predator. Work frozen and live foods such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm into the flow.

The discord goby is peaceful and social, and it stays low in the current. Give males room to hold a stone and display. Keep only calm, small tank mates that will not out-compete it for such fine foods.

Males show a bright red rear body and tail. The species is amphidromous, with marine larvae, and there is no record of it being bred in aquaria.

Good to know

Sicyopus discordipinnis is a member of the family Oxudercidae, described by Watson in 1995 from Papua New Guinea. Its name means discordant fins, a nod to fins that do not match. As in other Sicyopus species, it is a carnivore that hunts tiny invertebrates rather than grazing algae.

In the wild

The discord goby holds fast, clear stream stones across New Guinea, including northern drainages and nearby islands. Its water is warm and rich in oxygen, spilling over rock.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The discord goby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a discord goby need?

A discord goby needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a discord goby need?

A discord goby is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a discord goby eat?

A discord goby is a micro-predator, despite looking like an algae grazer. It eats frozen and live foods such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm.

How big does a discord goby get?

An adult discord goby reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

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

Males show a bright red rear body and tail.

How does a discord goby breed?

The discord goby is amphidromous, and its larvae develop in the sea. There is no record of it being bred in aquariums.

Related species