TankBud

Orange fin goby

Stiphodon maculidorsalis

Also known as Maculidorsalis goby, Orange fin Stiphodon goby

FreshwaterFish

Orange fin goby (Stiphodon maculidorsalis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Western Indonesian streams

Overview

The orange fin goby is a larger Stiphodon for a mature river tank, and a good first one. It is still a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

Females of many Stiphodon look so alike that only the males betray which species the shop received.

Caring for the orange fin goby

Keep orange fin gobies as a small group in a river tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Give them mature stone, strong flow, high oxygen and bright light for algae. The tank must be established before they arrive, because a clean new setup will not support them.

Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Biofilm is the main food, supplemented with algae wafers and frozen cyclops. The orange fin goby is easier to feed than smaller Stiphodon, and less easily outcompeted.

Orange fin gobies are peaceful and safe with community tank mates. Males color up and hold small grazing territories, while females stay plain.

Good to know

Stiphodon maculidorsalis is named for its spotted dorsal fin, though the orange fin edging is what sells it. It is a goby in the family Oxudercidae, also known as the maculidorsalis goby or orange fin Stiphodon goby.

In the wild

Stiphodon maculidorsalis comes from clear coastal streams in western Indonesia, in fast water over stone. It is amphidromous, moving between fresh water and the sea across its life cycle.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The orange fin goby 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 an orange fin goby need?

An orange fin goby needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an orange fin goby need?

An orange fin goby is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does an orange fin goby eat?

An orange fin goby lives mainly on biofilm. Supplement it with algae wafers and frozen cyclops.

How big does an orange fin goby get?

An adult orange fin goby reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male orange fin goby from a female?

Males color up and hold small grazing territories, while females stay plain.

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