TankBud

Sabanus bumblebee goby

Brachygobius sabanus

Also known as Sabah bumblebee, Sabanus bumble bee goby

FreshwaterFish

Sabanus bumblebee goby (Brachygobius sabanus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Bornean coastal fresh and brackish waters

Overview

The Sabanus bumblebee goby is a very small, boldly banded goby for a nano tank with plenty of structure. It is a little harder to keep than the easiest fish.

Did you know

The Sabanus bumblebee goby takes its name from Sabah, the Malaysian state on the northern tip of Borneo where it was first collected. It is among the smallest of the bumblebee gobies.

Caring for the Sabanus bumblebee goby

Keep Sabanus bumblebee gobies as a small group in at least 11 gal (40 L), with lots of cover. They are mildly territorial, so use rocks, roots and caves to split the floor and give each fish a perch to claim. Add gentle flow and a soft substrate.

They do not need salt, but they like hard, alkaline water. Keep it warm, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), with a pH of 7.0 to 8.2.

The Sabanus bumblebee goby stays near the bottom, perching on decor between short feeding darts. It feeds on small invertebrates and usually ignores dry flake. Offer small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and microworms.

It is mostly peaceful and social. Keep only calm, tiny tank mates. The genus lays guarded eggs, but there is no reliable record of this species being bred in an aquarium.

Good to know

Brachygobius sabanus is a member of the family Oxudercidae, described by Inger in 1958. It wears the black and yellow banding of its group. It is also known as the Sabah bumblebee.

In the wild

In the wild, the Sabanus bumblebee goby lives in coastal lowland waters of Borneo and nearby Southeast Asia. It ranges from fresh streams down to lightly brackish stretches, among rock and plant cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Sabanus 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 Sabanus bumblebee goby need?

A Sabanus bumblebee goby needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Sabanus bumblebee goby need?

A Sabanus bumblebee goby is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a Sabanus bumblebee goby eat?

A Sabanus bumblebee goby feeds on small invertebrates and usually ignores dry flake. Offer small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and microworms.

How big does a Sabanus bumblebee goby get?

An adult Sabanus bumblebee goby reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a Sabanus bumblebee goby breed?

Sabanus bumblebee gobies belong to a genus that lays guarded eggs. There is no reliable record of this species being bred in an aquarium.

Related species