TankBud

Mandarin rhinogobius

Rhinogobius brunneus

Also known as Amur goby brunneus, Jinan mandarin goby

FreshwaterFish

Mandarin rhinogobius (Rhinogobius brunneus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
East Asian streams

Overview

The mandarin rhinogobius is a classic cool-water stream goby for the bottom of a tank with steady current. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The mandarin rhinogobius is less a single species than a swarm of look-alikes. Japan alone holds more than ten color forms and Taiwan at least eight, differing stream by stream. Hobbyists often track them by their river of origin.

Caring for the mandarin rhinogobius

Keep the mandarin rhinogobius in a small group, in a tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Give it gentle to moderate flow and clean, well-oxygenated water. Lay a bed of gravel, pebbles and boulders, with stones, caves and crevices.

Run the tank without a heater, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). Keep the water neutral to slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0.

It stays on the bottom and feeds as a small predator. Offer frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus small sinking foods. Do not expect it to eat much dry flake.

The mandarin rhinogobius is peaceful and sociable, so pick calm companions that also tolerate cool water. Males are patterned with orange lines and spots across the cheeks. They are territorial, so give each male space to hold a stone, where he flares his fins and shows off those markings.

Wild fish have no established aquarium breeding record. Rhinogobius in general lay guarded clutches of eggs.

Good to know

Rhinogobius brunneus is a member of the family Oxudercidae, first described from Japan in the mid-nineteenth century. Its name, brunneus, means brown. It is also known as the Amur goby brunneus or Jinan mandarin goby.

In the wild

In the wild, the mandarin rhinogobius lives in temperate streams across East Asia, from Japan and Taiwan to Korea, China and beyond. It holds riffles and pools over gravel and stone, in cool, clear, flowing water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The mandarin rhinogobius 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a mandarin rhinogobius need?

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

What temperature and pH does a mandarin rhinogobius need?

A mandarin rhinogobius is comfortable at 64–75°F (18–24°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a mandarin rhinogobius eat?

A mandarin rhinogobius feeds as a small predator on frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus small sinking foods. It will not eat much dry flake.

How big does a mandarin rhinogobius get?

An adult mandarin rhinogobius reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How can you tell a male mandarin rhinogobius from a female?

Males are patterned with orange lines and spots across the cheeks.

How does a mandarin rhinogobius breed?

The mandarin rhinogobius has no established aquarium breeding record from the wild population. Rhinogobius gobies in general lay clutches of eggs and guard them.

Related species