TankBud

Golden mugilogobius

Mugilogobius rexi

Also known as Rexi goby, Golden goby

FreshwaterFish

Golden mugilogobius (Mugilogobius rexi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Lake Poso, Sulawesi

Overview

The golden mugilogobius is a small golden goby from an ancient Sulawesi lake, best kept as a biotope fish over sand and stone. It is for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The golden mugilogobius is one of the endemic residents of Lake Poso, an ancient tectonic lake with animals found nowhere else. The lake's fauna is quite separate from that of the nearby Malili lakes.

Caring for the golden mugilogobius

Keep a small group of golden mugilogobius in at least 14 gal (54 L), over a sand base with rock, roots and planted cover. Keep the flow gentle, and give the mildly territorial fish room to settle.

Hold the water hard and clearly alkaline, at a pH of 7.5 to 8.5 and 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C). It stays near the bottom in deeper, calmer water and takes small meaty foods. Offer frozen and live items such as cyclops, brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm, alongside small sinking foods.

The golden mugilogobius is mostly peaceful and social. It suits a hard-water community built around the lake's own fish, such as Sulawesi ricefish, rather than soft-water tank mates. Males are washed in a soft golden tone. There is no established record of it being bred in aquaria.

Good to know

Mugilogobius rexi is a member of the family Oxudercidae, described by Larson in 2001. It is also known as the rexi goby or the golden goby.

In the wild

The golden mugilogobius is restricted to Sulawesi, in Indonesia. It lives along the margins of ancient Lake Poso, over silty and sandy bottoms near clumps of aquatic plants and freshwater mangrove roots. The lake water is warm, hard and alkaline.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The golden mugilogobius is a mostly 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 golden mugilogobius need?

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

What temperature and pH does a golden mugilogobius need?

A golden mugilogobius is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a golden mugilogobius eat?

A golden mugilogobius takes small meaty foods. Offer frozen and live items such as cyclops, brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm, with small sinking foods alongside.

How big does a golden mugilogobius get?

An adult golden mugilogobius reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How can you tell a male golden mugilogobius from a female?

Males are washed in a soft golden tone.

How does a golden mugilogobius breed?

The golden mugilogobius has no established record of being bred in aquariums.

Related species