TankBud

Yellowstripe mugilogobius

Mugilogobius chulae

Also known as Chulae goby, Yellowstripe goby

FreshwaterFish

Yellowstripe mugilogobius (Mugilogobius chulae)
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
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner
Rarity
Rare
Family
Oxudercidae
Origin
Southeast Asian coastal waters

Overview

The yellowstripe mugilogobius is a small, tough goby that lives near the bottom of a nano tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The yellowstripe mugilogobius has a day job in science, beyond the aquarium. Its small size and fast breeding have made it a standard laboratory model for studying how chemicals affect coastal fish. Its genome has been sequenced as well.

Caring for the yellowstripe mugilogobius

Give a small group of yellowstripe mugilogobius a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or more. Furnish a sand floor with rock, shells and caves for shelter and spawning sites. Give each fish a cave or shell to defend as a home base.

Keep the water warm and hardish, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Fresh water suits it, and it is equally at home with a little marine salt added, which mimics part of its range. Feed small meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped items.

It is a mostly peaceful, social fish. Males will bicker mildly over territory but rarely do harm. Suitable tank mates are other small, calm fish that tolerate the same warm, hardish water. It spawns readily on hard surfaces inside a cave, and the male guards the eggs.

Good to know

The yellowstripe mugilogobius is a goby in the family Oxudercidae. It stays tiny and matures quickly, though it is not commonly raised for the hobby.

In the wild

The yellowstripe mugilogobius ranges through coastal fresh and brackish shallows across Southeast Asia, from stream mouths to estuarine ditches. It handles a wide swing in conditions there.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The yellowstripe mugilogobius 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 yellowstripe mugilogobius need?

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

What temperature and pH does a yellowstripe mugilogobius need?

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

What does a yellowstripe mugilogobius eat?

A yellowstripe mugilogobius eats small meaty foods, such as frozen bloodworm, baby brine shrimp and finely chopped items.

How big does a yellowstripe mugilogobius get?

An adult yellowstripe mugilogobius reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How does a yellowstripe mugilogobius breed?

A yellowstripe mugilogobius spawns readily on hard surfaces inside a cave. The male then guards the eggs.

Related species