Goby cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a small, elongated rapids cichlid that clings to rock in fast water, and it needs that current recreated to do well. It is peaceful toward other species but males are territorial with each other, so keep a small group with enough rockwork that each male can hold a crevice, and give a tank of at least 112 liters with strong flow. It stays low, slotting into gaps between stones rather than swimming in open water. Choose calm tankmates that also suit brisk, well oxygenated conditions, and avoid slow, long finned fish. Feed small foods: fine sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus some algae based food, since it grazes and picks at the stones in the wild.

In the wild

The goby cichlid lives in the rapids of the middle and upper Niger in West Africa, wedged among rocks in turbulent, oxygen rich water. Its home is defined by flow, so drive plenty of current with an added pump over a bed of water worn stones and cobbles, leaving crevices for it to shelter in. Keep the water warm at 24–28 C and close to neutral, around pH 6.5–7.5, and keep it clean and well oxygenated.

Good to know

Gobiocichla wonderi is a small member of the family Cichlidae, reaching only about 6.5 centimeters, with a slender, goby like body suited to life in fast water. It was described in 1951 and is one of just two species in its West African genus. It is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs in the shelter of the rocks, and breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Did you know

Life in the rapids has reshaped this cichlid into something closer to a goby, with a long, low, gripping body, a case of very different fish arriving at the same design when fast water demands it.

Common questions

Related species

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• 

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  Sabina's dwarf cichlid

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• Blue-cheek dwarf cichlid

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