TankBud

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
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific island streams

Overview

The red tail sicyopterus is a big film-grazing goby for a fast river tank. It is for experienced keepers.

Did you know

On Réunion, the climbing fry of the red tail sicyopterus are the bichique harvest. They are netted by the millions as they storm the river mouths.

Caring for the red tail sicyopterus

The red tail sicyopterus needs a genuine river tank rather than a nano, of at least 29 gal (110 L). Give it heavy flow, high oxygen and fast water over mature stone. It climbs, so the tank needs a tight lid.

Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. It rasps algae and biofilm off rock with a downturned mouth, so it needs enough stone surface to keep itself fed. Supplement the grazing with algae wafers and blanched vegetables.

The red tail sicyopterus is peaceful and social. It is safe with community tank mates.

Good to know

Sicyopterus lagocephalus is a goby in the family Oxudercidae, also known as the bichique or red-tailed rabbit-head goby. 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.

In the wild

Sicyopterus lagocephalus is one of the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world. It lives in island streams across the Indo-Pacific, from the western Indian Ocean to the central Pacific.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red tail sicyopterus 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 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 does a red tail sicyopterus need?

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

What does a red tail sicyopterus eat?

A red tail sicyopterus rasps algae and biofilm off rock with its downturned mouth. Supplement its grazing with algae wafers and blanched vegetables.

How big does a red tail sicyopterus get?

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

Related species