
- Live food is really the best option for bumblebee gobies.
- They will readily take tubifex and blood worms that are still living. They will eat frozen ones if there is a slight current to keep the food moving around.
- Hatched brine shrimp are also a great option. The same current needs apply for frozen brine shrimp.
- In my experience with my gobies, I found that tiny, live Convict Cichlid fry were the perfect meal for a hungry goby.
- Keep in mind that if the food doesn't move, your gobies won't eat it.
What do you feed your Bumblebee gobies?
1 Live food is really the best option for bumblebee gobies. 2 They will readily take tubifex and blood worms that are still living. ... 3 Hatched brine shrimp are also a great option. ... 4 In my experience with my gobies, I found that tiny, live Convict Cichlid fry were the perfect meal for a hungry goby. More items...
How to take care of a bumblebee goby fish?
Bumblebee Goby: The Complete Care Guide 1 Appearance. The BumbleBee Goby is quite a small fish, but its beauty makes it a good addition to most community tanks. 2 Environment. Bumblebee Gobies cannot survive in soft or acidic water. ... 3 Feeding. Due to their carnivorous nature, Bumblebee Gobies need to eat meat. ... 4 Breeding. ...
Are bumblebee goby good for beginners?
One example is the Bumblebee Goby, an attractive fish and social fish that livens up the lower regions of fish tanks. They are a little more challenging than most species to care for, so beginners might want to get some experience elsewhere first. Aquarists with some know-how will enjoy the challenge.
What is the best substrate for Bumblebee gobies?
Sand is the proper substrate for bumblebee gobies, as it will allow them to move freely and burrow on occasion. Driftwood, river rocks, and live plants are also recommended to replicate natural conditions and to provide hiding. A well-planted and natural tank best suits bumblebee gobies.

What do bumblebees fish eat?
The Bumblebee Goby requires a diet rich in small, live foods such as tubifex worms, bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia.
How much salt does a Bumblebee Goby need?
In general, one teaspoon of marine salt per gallon (two grams of marine salt for every liter) of water is usually sufficient to meet a bumblebee goby's needs.
What do you feed freshwater gobies?
Best Diet for Goby Fish Goby fish are predatory fish that will eat both plants and animals. Feeding your fish pellets, artificial food, and live foods. Some of the common foods you can offer include; daphnia, live brine shrimp, blood worms, and Cyclops.
Do bumblebee gobies need brackish water?
Almost every guide out there for bumblebee gobies will tell you that brackish (slightly marine) water is best for these fish. I'm not going to tell you that they're wrong, but as long as you keep up your pH and hardness, freshwater will sustain these fish.
Do bumblebee gobies eat fish flakes?
Feeding Bumblee Goby Usually, they like to eat whatever that is floating around. So you cannot feed them with food that floats on the surface of the water, like flakes. They like eating live food as well as frozen food.
How big do Bumblebee goby get?
A Bumblebee Goby reaches 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3 to 4 cm) at full maturity, which makes them one of the smallest gobies in the world. Some specimens don't even grow that long. That said, this species makes a great choice if you have an interest in setting up a nano tank.
Can I keep bumblebee goby live in freshwater?
Bumblebee gobies are naturally found in slightly brackish ponds. Some fish will require low salinity levels in their tank to stay healthy. Others can do fine in pure freshwater.
What do goby fish eat?
Round gobies are voracious feeders. Up to 60% of their diet is made up of mussels in some places. They also eat aquatic insect larvae, the young and eggs of other fish, and aquatic snails. In the Great Lakes they prey on zebra mussels, another Great Lakes exotic from the same native region.
Do goby fish eat algae?
This species is a herbivore feeding on algae off rocks on the bottom of the guts. Approaching the gut these species of fish appear to swim off frantically. Depending on the time of year and location, you may able to observe the spotted algae-eating goby due to its iridescent blue-green color.
What fish can go with bumblebee goby?
Bumblebee goby is compatible with different peaceful tempered fish species of the same size and ability to live in brackish water like guppies and mollies. Fishes that move in the middle water layers or near the surface are better as bumblebee goby tank mates.
Can bumblebee goby live in saltwater?
They are peaceful and can be housed with other peaceful fish as well as their own species. Gobies tend to stay mainly towards the bottom of the tank, burrowing and sifting through the sandy substrate....Care Facts.Care Level:EasyTemperament:PeacefulDiet:CarnivoreReef Safe:YesMinimum Tank Size:30 gallons1 more row
Do bumblebee gobies eat brine shrimp?
Bumblebee Gobies are carnivores, requiring nutritious, protein-rich foods. They generally only eat live or frozen foods, which can be more of a hassle to buy and store. They cost more too. There are lots of live/frozen foods to choose from though, including brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex worms, and bloodworms.
Are bumblebee gobies brackish?
Bumblebee gobies (Brachygobius spp.) have black and orange stripes on them, similar to a bumblebee. They are brackish-water species that will generally deteriorate in fresh water. The bumblebees comprise several closely related and similar-appearing species. Most of them grow to about 2 inches or so.
How many gobies should I get?
Limit stocking to one goby of each genus unless there's plenty of room. Most will adapt well to captive diets and a variety of small fresh, frozen and artificial feeds is important. Many will fend for themselves in a mature reef system with natural plankton populations.
What kind of fish can a bumblebee goby live with?
Bumblebee goby is compatible with different peaceful tempered fish species of the same size and ability to live in brackish water like guppies and mollies. Fishes that move in the middle water layers or near the surface are better as bumblebee goby tank mates.
How big are bumblebee gobys?
Both are small, 4-5 cm (1.6-2 in) in length at most, and both have broad yellow and black vertical bands on the body, but in bumblebee goby, ...
Can you keep a bumblebee goby in a tank?
Bumblebee Goby: Tank Mates, Care, Diet, and Breeding. Bumblebee gobies (Brachygobius) are suitable for those of you who cannot keep a large brackish water aquarium because they will be quite happy in a 10-20 gallons tank. Although these fishes are small, we do not recommend using anything smaller than this because it is more difficult ...
Can gobys live in a community tank?
Keeping these gobies in a community tank, they are not compatible with community aquariums because they need brackish water. The goby males battle for their territory on the aquarium floor, and notwithstanding this, it is recommended to have not smaller than 8 varieties in a school to make sure that they don’t show aggression towards other fish.
Can bumblebees eat flake food?
Bumblebee goby diet. Feeding bumblebees can be quite a problem, as only rarely will they accept flake foods. If you are lucky, they will take frozen bloodworm and Daphnia, if not, then you must be prepared to provide live foods of all kinds.
Can a bumblebee goby live in a reef tank?
Frostbite Clownfish in a Reef Tank. Bumblebee goby is compatible with different peaceful tempered fish species of the same size and ability to live in brackish water like guppies and mollies. Fishes that move in the middle water layers or near the surface are better as bumblebee goby tank mates.
What is a bumblebee goby?
The Bumblebee Goby is a species that lives in brackish water. This means their preferred salinity falls between freshwater and saltwater. This puts some people off. Some aquarists aren’t comfortable with handling salinity, others don’t like the limited number of tank mates available for brackish water aquariums.
How long do bumblebee gobys live?
Go to a different store if there are any problems. When kept in a healthy environment, a Bumblebee Goby should live for about 3 years. They could live even longer, but this depends on the individual fish and the quality of care.
Why are bumblebee gobies so prone to disease?
Bumblebee Gobies are not particularly prone to disease, but many aquarists unknowingly stress their fish with an imperfect salinity, which can promote disease.
Why are bumblebee gobies hard to find?
Bumblebee Gobies are harder to find tank mates for than most species. This is because they are from brackish water habitats, which narrows the range of possible companions. Their temperament doesn’t cause compatibility problems. They a relatively peaceful fish that can lie alongside other species.
What is a goby fish?
One example is the Bumblebee Goby, an attractive fish and social fish that livens up the lower regions of fish tanks. They are a little more challenging than most species to care for, so beginners might want to get some experience elsewhere first. Aquarists with some know-how will enjoy the challenge. Bumblebee Gobies are a great introduction ...
How long does it take for a bumblebee goby to hatch?
Once this has happened, separate the eggs from the adults, except for the father. The male will guard the eggs until they hatch after about a week.
What are the fins of a goby?
This includes ventral fins that form suction cups that allow the fish to attach themselves to surfaces in the tank. Their dorsal fins are relatively short, and the caudal fin is small, rounded, and fan-like.
How long do bumblebee goby eggs last?
As for the males, they stay in the shelter and guard the eggs till the larvae hatches. Egg stage lasts for 7-9 days. The juveniles start to swim several days later. First the bumblebee goby juveniles feed on their yolk beg leftovers and then you should start feeding them with infusorians and rotifers.
How big of a tank do bumblebee goby fish need?
Optimal tank size for a small group of fish starts with 80 liters.
What color are bumblebee goby fish?
Provided with favorable tank conditions the fish has very bright and contrast coloring pattern of golden-yellow and tar dark stripes that go in turns, which makes the fish look like a bee and due to this bumblebee goby got its name.
What is a bumblebee goby?
Bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae) The bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae) is a small, bright and peaceful fish which nano tank owners eagerly buy. Further in the article, you’ll find out how to keep bumblebee goby, feed it, select tank mates, and breed it.
What do juvenile shrimp nauplii eat?
When the juveniles grow a bit, they can eat chopped tubifex and brine shrimp nauplii. The juveniles grow very slowly and they become 1 cm long only at the age of 1 month provided with high feeding. At the age of 2 month the fish starts to demonstrate coloring and behavior peculiar to the adult species.
Where do bumblebee goby live?
The bumblebee goby habitat is in Indonesian islands – Java, Sumatra and Borneo. It dwells in lowlands with brackish water along coastline – such as mangrove swamps, estuaries of rivers running into the sea. As a rule bottom there consists of clay loam, sand and mud with some organics on it, such as fallen leaves, mango tree roots and snags.
What should a fish have before spawning?
Before spawning the fish should have high and diversified diet. Spawning is triggered with tank water renew, rising water temperature at several degrees and intensive aeration. The spawning itself occurs in a shelter. The male chooses a proper place and waits till the female passes by.
What is the best thing about a bumblebee goby?
One of the best things about the Bumblebee Goby is watching the males. Given enough space, each male will establish its own area, its territory, and will spend a good amount of time chasing other males out of this space. No one gets hurt, and it can just be a bit of fishy fun to watch.
How to encourage bumblebee gobies to mate?
To encourage your Bumblebee Gobies to mate, just pour some freshwater into the tank to simulate the rain. As the water becomes less brackish, it will convince them it is time to breed.
What temperature do bumblebee gobies need?
Temperature. Bumblebee Gobies will do best in water between 73 F and 79 F. If you have your tank in a climate controlled room, this may be no problem for you. Depending on your location, however, you may need a heater to keep your water at the right temperature.
Why are bumblebee gobies aggressive?
Due to the tiny nature of the Bumblebee Goby, they can be aggressive if kept in community tank without some same species friends. This aggression can be curbed by giving your Bumblebee Goby some same species friends to hang around with. Bumblebee Gobies like to swim in school, so this will help they be more peaceful to tank mates.
How big are bumblebee gobies?
Reaching a length of only two inches as adults, Bumblebee Gobies are one of the smallest freshwater fish. While most species of Gobies are saltwater fish, a few species, like the Bumblebee Goby prefer brackish water, and some can even survive in freshwater.
How often do bumblebee gobies change water?
One thing to remember here is that larger water changes on the order of 30% every other week are better than small 10% changes every week. Since Bumblebee Gobies stay at the bottom, the’ll also be less affected by the removal of the existing water than other species.
Why is a bumblebee goby called a goby?
It is called a Bumblebee Goby due to its beautiful yellow and black stripes.
What do bumblebee gobies eat?
They will eat frozen ones if there is a slight current to keep the food moving around. Hatched brine shrimp are also a great option. The same current needs apply for frozen brine shrimp.
What kind of water do bumblebee gobies like?
Almost every guide out there for bumblebee gobies will tell you that brackish (slightly marine) water is best for these fish. I'm not going to tell you that they're wrong, but as long as you keep up your pH and hardness, freshwater will sustain these fish.
How many gobies can you have in a ten gallon tank?
To ensure the best living conditions, only stock two gobies in a ten-gallon aquarium.
What is the difficulty of care rating for bumblebee gobies?
Here is where the "difficulty of care" rating takes on an 8 out of 10 score. Bumblebee gobies are tricky to feed. Because they are an opportunistic-style feeder, they will snap at anything that might swim or float by, so flakes and dry foods are out of the question.
Do bumblebee gobies live in freshwater?
All the bumblebee gobies I've cared for have lived long and healthy lives in freshwater. Never once did they show signs of stress or washed-out colors—just some food for thought. If you feel more comfortable with brackish water, add marine salt solution until a specific gravity of 1.004 is reached.
Do bumblebee gobys swim?
Growing to an average length of around two inches in the aquarium, the bumblebee goby is well-suited for a community-style tank. They work well with a variety of fishes.
Can gobies eat brine shrimp?
In my experience with my gobies, I found that tiny, live Convict Cichlid fry were the perfect meal for a hungry goby. Keep in mind that if the food doesn't move, your gobies won't eat it.

Species Summary
Appearance
- The given trade name of these fish does a pretty good job of describing their physical appearance. The first thing you’ll notice is their distinct striped pattern. Alternating stripes of black and yellow cover their entire bodies. The exact hue of the yellow stripes can vary a bit from fish to fish. Some specimens can have pale yellow patterns while others lean more on the side of orang…
Size
- These fish aren’t very big at all. At full maturity, the average bumblebee goby size is only about an inch and a half long!Some don’t even make it to that. Because they’re so small, this species is a great choice for anyone looking for an interesting nano fish. Although if you’re going to try and maximize their lifespan you’ll probably want a slightly bigger setup than that.
Bumblebee Goby Care
- As we mentioned earlier, bumblebee gobies care can be a little tricky. This species does require a bit more work than a simple Goldfish or some other straightforward species. With that said, caring for this quirky fish is manageable. The key is to have a strong understanding of their specific needs and provide them with optimal living conditions.
Behavior & Temperament
- Generally speaking, bumblebee gobies are quite peaceful. They’re passive creatures that would rather hide than show aggression. With that said, some territorial behavior has been observed. The fish will usually claim a small part of the tank as their own and guard it heavily. If another fish of the same species enters, they may spar a bit. However, this is usually just light fighting and ne…
Bumblebee Goby Tank Mates
- Finding adequate tank mates for the bumblebee goby isn’t always easy. This is due, in large part, to their brackish water needs. Their temperament is never the issue! Furthermore, the small size of the fish can make them a target for larger species. Other fish will be competing for the food you provide. Thanks to their small stature, they’ll almost always lose those battles. For these reason…
Breeding
- Bumblebee gobies are egg-layers. Females can lay upwards of 200 eggs at one time! Triggering the breeding process isn’t too difficult. Typically, breeders will simply provide food with higher protein content than normal. Some will also add a bit of freshwater to the tank. You’ll know that the fish are breeding when you see females start to swell up. She’ll lay her eggs in small hiding s…
It’S Time to Make A Decision
- Tons of people are drawn to the bumblebee goby because of their unique and cute appearance. They envision having a ton of these little fishes swimming around their tank while they sit back and enjoy. But when they find out about some of the care requirements they lose interest. Before considering getting this fish you should consider if you’re willing to provide them with proper car…
Bumblebee Goby Facts & Overview
Appearance
- These are attractive fish, which pairs wonderfully with their interesting personalities to make a tempting tank mate for home aquariums. Their common name does a good job of describing what they look like. They have thick black and yellow vertical stripes from their head to the base of their tail, resembling a bumblebee. Sometimes these stripes extend to the fins, but the fins are u…
Habitat and Tank Conditions
- This species is native to Asia, in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. They aren’t found elsewhere in the wild, but they are sold across the world in the aquarium industry. They primarily live in brackish water habitats, where there is a mix of freshwater and saltwater. Estuaries and mangroves are the main examples. They stick to the shallows, away from bigger fi…
Diet
- A healthy diet is essential for healthy fish. Providing a range of nutrientswill help to keep your fish strong and help them to fend off diseases. Unfortunately, feeding Bumblebee Gobies is one of the hardest parts of owning them. They are picky eaters and will only eat their favorite foods. Dried foods are usually out of the question. Flakes and p...
Care
- These fish usually live for about 3 years in captivity, but with high-quality care, you could be able to extend this. Bumblebee Gobies need a clean environment, just like all fish do. By regularly performing tank maintenance, this shouldn’t be an issue. The main tasks when keeping the tank clean are performing regular partial water changes and wiping away excess algae, but there are …
Breeding
- Bumblebee Gobies are not the easiest fish to breed, but it is very possible in captivity if you know what you are doing. Spawning will only occur when environmental conditions are perfect. This means keeping the tank, and the water, clean. Perhaps increase the frequency of your cleaning regime. A nutritious diet is also crucial. This must be full of protein. To help trigger spawning, so…
Are Bumblebee Gobies Suitable For Your Aquarium?
- You should now have a good idea as to whether these fish are right for you. There are a few challenges to overcome initially, but once your aquarium is up and running, the experience will be much easier. Designing their tank and diet will be done before you even buy some Bumblebee Gobies. This is easy if you’ve done your research. After that, you just have to clean the tank and t…
Habitat in The Wild
Description
Difficulties in Keeping
Keeping in A Tank
Feeding
- The bumblebee goby is a micropredator. It is a carnivorous fish, that’s why it’s preferable to feed it with small live and frozen food. This can be tubifex, brine shrimp and daphnia. The fish gathers its food from the tank bottom. Usually it refuses to eat artificial food. The fish is quite demanding in terms of feeding and may not eat during the f...
Tank Mates
Gender Differences: Male vs Female
Breeding
Appearance
Environment
Feeding
- Due to their carnivorous nature, Bumblebee Gobies need to eat meat. Things like brine shrimp, tubifex worms, or even blood worms would keep them happy and healthy. You can opt for live, frozen, or freeze-dried. Take note, however: It will be much easier to get them to eat live food. Here are some ideas for things you can easily grow for your bumble...
Breeding
Fun Bumblebee Goby Facts