Green belly goby
Lentipes ikeae
Also known as Ikeae goby, Blue belly red goby
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
- Origin
- Western Sumatran streams
- Family
- Oxudercidae
Overview
A stream goby for a properly built river tank, and not a fish that tolerates compromise on flow. Keep a small group in 54 liters with cobble, strong circulation and high oxygen. It takes small meaty frozen foods and grazes film off stone. Color develops slowly over weeks once it settles, so a plain-looking new arrival is normal. Keep it with other rheophiles rather than in a general community.
In the wild
Lentipes ikeae comes from steep, fast streams in western Sumatra, usually well upriver above waterfalls that exclude most other fish. Keep it at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.5 to 7.8, with turnover high enough to keep the surface broken.
Good to know
Lentipes ikeae reaches about 4 centimeters. Lentipes are famous climbers: juveniles returning from the sea scale vertical wet rock and waterfalls using a pelvic sucker, which is how they reach habitat that has no other fish in it. Males show a green to blue belly against a dark forebody.
Did you know
Male lentipes repaint in seconds during display; the green belly is a mood with a zip code.
Tank mates
Green belly goby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Glowing ember barb
Enteromius candensFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Dwarf driftwood catfish
Tatia gyrinaFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereriFreshwater1 in (2.6 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Discord goby
Sicyopus discordipinnisFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Red fin otocinclus
Parotocinclus maculicaudaFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Panda darter tetra
Aphyocharax nattereriFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°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 do Green belly goby need?
Green belly goby are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
How big do Green belly goby get?
An adult Green belly goby reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Gobies · Advanced fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers
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Related species
Critter goby
Lentipes crittersiusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
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Lentipes multiradiatusFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Caledonian red nose goby
Lentipes kaaeaFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Gold neon dwarf goby
Stiphodon percnopterygionusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Cebu orange tail goby
Sicyopus cebuensisFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)