TankBud

Violet goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

BrackishFish

Violet goby (Gobioides broussonnetii)
"Dragon goby" by ictheostega is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · by

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.5–8.5
Adult size
21.7 in
55 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Gobiidae
Origin
United States, Mexico, South America

Overview

The violet goby is a large goby for a very big brackish tank. Its size, brackish needs and feeding habits make it a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The violet goby's long, sharp-looking teeth are misleading. It uses them more like a scraper and rake than for biting prey, so the scary grin is mostly for show.

Caring for the violet goby

The violet goby needs a very large tank of at least 119 gal (450 L) because it gets so big. It burrows in soft bottoms, so give it a deep, fine sand bed it can dig into.

Keep it in brackish water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 8.5. It stays on the bottom and sifts mouthfuls of sand, straining out algae and tiny invertebrates. Feed sinking foods such as frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and meaty bits it can suck up off the substrate.

The violet goby does not socialize and can turn aggressive in close quarters. Keep it on its own or with calm, larger brackish tank mates. Breeding it in captivity is essentially undocumented.

Good to know

The violet goby is an eel-shaped member of the goby family Gobiidae. Its mouth and gill rakers are built for filter and sift feeding. It has tiny eyes and poor vision, and it relies on smell and taste to find food.

In the wild

The violet goby lives in brackish estuaries, mangrove channels and muddy river mouths along the Atlantic coast. Its range runs from the southern US and Mexico down through South America.

Common questions

What size tank does a violet goby need?

A violet goby needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a violet goby need?

A violet goby is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.5.

What does a violet goby eat?

A violet goby eats sinking foods such as frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and meaty bits it can suck up off the bottom. It also sifts mouthfuls of sand for algae and tiny invertebrates.

How big does a violet goby get?

An adult violet goby reaches about 21.7 in (55 cm).

Related species