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Red tail sicyopterus

Sicyopterus lagocephalus

Also known as Bichique, Red-tailed rabbit-head goby, Red tail goby

FreshwaterFish
Red tail sicyopterus (Sicyopterus lagocephalus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank
29 gal (110 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Origin
Indo-Pacific island streams
Family
Oxudercidae

Overview

A big film-grazing goby that needs a genuine river tank rather than a nano. Keep it in 110 liters or more with heavy flow, mature stone and high oxygen; it rasps algae and biofilm off rock with a downturned mouth and needs enough surface to keep itself fed. Supplement with algae wafers and blanched vegetables. It climbs, so the tank needs a tight lid.

In the wild

Sicyopterus lagocephalus is one of the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world, found in island streams across the Indo-Pacific from the western Indian Ocean to the central Pacific. Keep it at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.5 to 7.8, in fast water over stone.

Good to know

Sicyopterus lagocephalus reaches about 13 centimeters. Its enormous range comes from a long marine larval phase that lets it colonize island streams thousands of kilometers apart. Juveniles climb waterfalls using a pelvic sucker and a second grip formed by the mouth, moving upward in a series of holds.

Did you know

On Réunion its climbing fry are the bichique harvest, netted by the millions as they storm the river mouths.

Tank mates

Red tail sicyopterus is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Red tail sicyopterus need?

A Red tail sicyopterus needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH do Red tail sicyopterus need?

Red tail sicyopterus are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

How big do Red tail sicyopterus get?

An adult Red tail sicyopterus reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Gobies · Advanced fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers

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