Green belly goby
Lentipes ikeae
Also known as Ikeae goby, Blue belly red goby
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 1.6 in
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal
- 54 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Oxudercidae
- Origin
- Western Sumatran streams
Overview
The green belly goby is a small, peaceful stream goby that needs a fast river tank. It is a demanding fish for experienced keepers.
Did you know
Male green belly gobies can repaint themselves in seconds during display, so the green belly shows their mood.
Caring for the green belly goby
Green belly gobies need a properly built river tank, and they will not tolerate compromise on flow. Keep a small group in at least 14 gal (54 L), over cobble with strong circulation and high oxygen. Run the turnover high enough to keep the surface broken.
Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. The green belly goby takes small meaty frozen foods and also grazes film off the stone.
It is peaceful, but keep it with other rheophiles, fish that like strong current, rather than in a general community. Color develops slowly over weeks once it settles, so a plain-looking new arrival is normal. Males show a green to blue belly against a dark forebody.
Good to know
Lentipes ikeae is a goby in the family Oxudercidae, also known as the ikeae goby or blue belly red goby. Lentipes are famous climbers. Juveniles returning from the sea scale vertical wet rock and waterfalls using a pelvic sucker. That climb is how they reach habitat with no other fish in it.
In the wild
Lentipes ikeae comes from steep, fast streams in western Sumatra. It usually lives well upriver, above waterfalls that keep out most other fish.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The green belly 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.
Cherry barb
Rohanella titteya
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Guinean panchax
Epiplatys guineensis
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Dwarf driftwood catfish
Tatia gyrina
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Congo clipper barb
Clypeobarbus congicus
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a green belly goby need?
A green belly goby needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a green belly goby need?
A green belly goby is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a green belly goby eat?
A green belly goby takes small meaty frozen foods. It also grazes film off the stone in its tank.
How big does a green belly goby get?
An adult green belly goby reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
How can you tell a male green belly goby from a female?
Males show a green to blue belly against a dark forebody.
Related species
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