White-cheek goby
Rhinogobius duospilus
Also known as Hong Kong goby, Rainbow goby, Whitecheek goby
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 61–75°F
- 16–24°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Native to southern China and Hong Kong in the Pearl River drainage, in cool, fast-flowing hillstreams over rock and gravel.
Overview
The white-cheek goby is a small bottom dweller for a cool tank with strong flow. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The white-cheek goby prefers cool water and tolerates a wide temperature range, down toward 10°C.
Caring for the white-cheek goby
Give white-cheek gobies a tank of 16 gal (60 L) or more with brisk, oxygen-rich flow and extra aeration. Use sand or fine gravel and add lots of smooth stones and caves.
Keep the water at 61 to 75°F (16 to 24°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. The white-cheek goby feeds from the bottom and will not chase flake. Offer frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and small sinking foods.
It is mildly territorial, but a small group works when there is enough rockwork and floor space to break up sight lines. Good tank mates include danios, white cloud minnows and hillstream loaches, temperate species that enjoy the same cool current.
Males are more colorful and defend small territories, especially around the caves used for spawning. Pairs spawn in a cave, where the male guards the clutch and fans the eggs with his fins until the fry hatch. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The white-cheek goby, Rhinogobius duospilus, belongs to the goby family Gobiidae. It is one of the more commonly imported members of its genus.
In the wild
White-cheek gobies are native to southern China and Hong Kong, in the Pearl River drainage. They live in cool, quick hillstreams with a rocky or sandy bed and very well oxygenated water. They hop and perch along the bottom, and males flash their white cheeks.
Common questions
What size tank does a white-cheek goby need?
A white-cheek goby needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a white-cheek goby need?
A white-cheek goby is comfortable at 61–75°F (16–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a white-cheek goby eat?
A white-cheek goby eats frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and small sinking foods. It feeds from the bottom and will not chase flake.
How big does a white-cheek goby get?
An adult white-cheek goby reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
How can you tell a male white-cheek goby from a female?
Males are more colorful than females. They also defend small territories, especially around the caves used for spawning.
Related species
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