TankBud

Mini bumblebee goby

Brachygobius xanthomelas

Also known as Xanthomelas bumblebee, True bumblebee goby

FreshwaterFish

Mini bumblebee goby (Brachygobius xanthomelas)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
0.8 in
2 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner
Rarity
Common
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Sundaland peat and lowland waters

Overview

The mini bumblebee goby is a tiny goby for a dedicated nano tank rather than a community. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The mini bumblebee goby is the tiniest of the bumblebee gobies, and it skipped the brackish myth entirely. Soft peat water is its actual home.

Caring for the mini bumblebee goby

Keep mini bumblebee gobies as a small group in at least 5 gal (20 L). Give them sand, small caves and gentle flow.

Mini bumblebee gobies do not need brackish water, unlike several other bumblebee gobies. That is the main practical reason to choose this species. Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

The mini bumblebee goby hunts rather than grazes, and it usually refuses dry food. Plan on frozen and live micro foods such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and microworms.

It will not compete for food with faster fish. It is safe with shrimp of adult size. Males claim a small cave and guard the eggs laid on its ceiling.

Good to know

Brachygobius xanthomelas is a goby in the family Oxudercidae, banded black over yellow. The genus is often sold indiscriminately as bumblebee gobies, with conflicting salinity advice attached. With this genus, identifying the actual species matters more than usual. It is also known as the true bumblebee goby or xanthomelas bumblebee.

In the wild

Brachygobius xanthomelas lives in peat swamps and lowland waters across Sundaland. The water there is soft, fresh and often stained with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The mini bumblebee 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 mini bumblebee goby need?

A mini bumblebee goby needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a mini bumblebee goby need?

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

What does a mini bumblebee goby eat?

A mini bumblebee goby hunts rather than grazes and usually refuses dry food. Feed it frozen and live micro foods such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp and microworms.

How big does a mini bumblebee goby get?

An adult mini bumblebee goby reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).

How does a mini bumblebee goby breed?

Mini bumblebee gobies spawn in a small cave. The male claims it and guards the eggs, which are laid on the cave's ceiling.

Related species