Mini bumblebee goby

Brachygobius xanthomelas

Also known as Xanthomelas bumblebee, True bumblebee goby

FreshwaterFish

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
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Sundaland peat and lowland waters
Family: Oxudercidae

Overview

A tiny goby for a dedicated nano tank rather than a community, because it will not compete for food with faster fish. Keep a small group in 20 liters with sand, small caves and gentle flow. It hunts rather than grazes, and dry food is usually refused, so plan on frozen and live micro foods: cyclops, baby brine shrimp and microworms. It is safe with shrimp of adult size.

In the wild

Brachygobius xanthomelas lives in peat swamps and lowland waters across Sundaland, in soft, often tannin-stained fresh water. Keep it at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5. Unlike several bumblebee gobies it does not need brackish water, which is the main practical reason to choose this species.

Good to know

Brachygobius xanthomelas reaches about 2 centimeters, banded black over yellow. Males claim a small cave and guard eggs laid on its ceiling. The genus is often sold indiscriminately as bumblebee gobies with conflicting salinity advice attached, so identifying the actual species matters more here than usual.

Did you know

The tiniest bumblebee skipped the brackish myth entirely; soft peat water is its actual home.

Tank mates

Mini bumblebee goby is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.