TankBud

Lumbantobing goby

Pseudogobiopsis lumbantobing

Also known as Sumatra dwarf goby

FreshwaterFish

Lumbantobing goby (Pseudogobiopsis lumbantobing)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Sumatran lowland streams

Overview

The Lumbantobing goby is a quiet little lowland goby for a small, gently flowing tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The Lumbantobing goby reached European fish tanks before it had a scientific name. It was traded simply as an unidentified orange-spotted goby until it was described in 2017.

Caring for the Lumbantobing goby

Keep Lumbantobing gobies as a small group in at least 11 gal (40 L), with gentle flow and plenty of cover. A soft substrate suits them. Males are mildly territorial, so split the floor into little territories with leaf litter, wood and stones.

Keep the water warm, soft and slightly acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. If you like, tint it lightly with wood or leaves until it is gently tea-stained.

Lumbantobing gobies stay near the bottom and take small meaty foods. Offer frozen and live items such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm, alongside small sinking foods.

They are mostly peaceful and social. Give them calm, small companions that will not steal their share. There is no established record of the species being bred in an aquarium.

Good to know

Pseudogobiopsis lumbantobing is a member of the family Oxudercidae, described by Larson, Hadiaty and Hubert. It honors the ichthyologist Daniel Lumbantobing, whose specimens finally settled its identity. It is also known as the Sumatra dwarf goby.

In the wild

In the wild, the Lumbantobing goby lives in gentle lowland streams and rivers on Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. It keeps to sand, gravel and rock at very low elevations, often among algae and aquatic plants.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Lumbantobing goby 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 Lumbantobing goby need?

A Lumbantobing goby needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Lumbantobing goby need?

A Lumbantobing goby is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Lumbantobing goby eat?

A Lumbantobing goby takes small meaty foods near the bottom. Offer frozen and live items such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm, alongside small sinking foods.

How big does a Lumbantobing goby get?

An adult Lumbantobing goby reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Related species