Spotfin goby cichlid
Tanganicodus irsacae
Also known as Tanganyika clown goby cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika surf zone
Overview
The spotfin goby cichlid is a delicate Tanganyikan specialist for a mature, cobbled tank with strong flow. It is best left to experienced keepers.
Did you know
The spotfin goby cichlid's fine, pointed snout works like tweezers, plucking single small invertebrates out of the algae film on the rocks. It does this careful feeding in the roughest water of the lake.
Caring for the spotfin goby cichlid
Keep a pair or small group of spotfin goby cichlids in a mature tank of at least 29 gal (110 L). Cover the floor with rounded cobble, and run strong, steady flow over it.
They need very high oxygen, so add aeration. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. They pick at the rocks all day, so feed small, frequent portions of frozen and fine prepared foods.
The spotfin goby cichlid is mostly peaceful and safe with community fish, but it loses out quickly to greedy or fast tank mates. Keep it away from pushier fish.
It is a biparental mouthbrooder, and the pair passes the developing brood between them. It is difficult to breed.
Good to know
The spotfin goby cichlid is the smallest and most pointed-faced of the Tanganyikan goby cichlids. It is marked by a dark spot on the dorsal fin.
In the wild
The spotfin goby cichlid lives in the wave-battered surge zone of Lake Tanganyika. It picks food from among pebbles and cobble, where the water is churned and rich in oxygen.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotfin goby cichlid 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.
Brown julie
Julidochromis dickfeldi
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Brevis shell dweller
Neolamprologus brevis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Tanganyika killifish
Lamprichthys tanganicanus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Dwarf petricola
Synodontis lucipinnis
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (114 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotfin goby cichlid need?
A spotfin goby cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a spotfin goby cichlid need?
A spotfin goby cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a spotfin goby cichlid eat?
A spotfin goby cichlid picks at the rocks all day. Feed it small, frequent portions of frozen and fine prepared foods.
How big does a spotfin goby cichlid get?
An adult spotfin goby cichlid reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
How does a spotfin goby cichlid breed?
The spotfin goby cichlid is a biparental mouthbrooder, and the pair passes the developing brood between them. It is difficult to breed.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)Caudopunctatus
Neolamprologus caudopunctatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Masked julie
Julidochromis transcriptus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Smooth buffalo head
Steatocranus glaber
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Clown labidochromis
Labidochromis chisumulae
3.1 in (8 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Golden dwarf convict
Amatitlania nanolutea
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
- 2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Brevis shell dweller
Neolamprologus brevis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)