Desert Goby
Chlamydogobius eremius
A tiny Australian desert survivor that laughs at water conditions others can't handle.
About
The desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius) comes from one of the harshest aquatic environments imaginable. Artesian springs and isolated pools in arid South Australia, where temperatures swing wildly and salinity can shift from nearly fresh to saltier than the sea. That background has produced a fish of almost absurd hardiness. In the wild it shelters near rocks and vegetation, picking off insects, small crustaceans, algae, and whatever organic material drifts by. In the aquarium it behaves much the same way, spending most of its time resting on or scooting between hard surfaces rather than actively swimming. These gobies are genuinely poor swimmers, moving around the tank in short hops and dashes rather than gliding through open water, which makes them endlessly entertaining to watch. Males develop attractive yellow and black coloration and can be territorial with one another, so keeping a single male with one or more females, or providing plenty of broken line-of-sight with rocks and caves, goes a long way. For a beginner looking for something small and unusual that is not going to punish minor mistakes in water management, the desert goby is a genuinely forgiving choice. One of those species that almost seems designed to survive whatever gets thrown at it.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Desert Goby
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the Desert Goby get?
- The Desert Goby reaches about 1.5–2.5" as an adult.
- What size tank does the Desert Goby need?
- A minimum of 10 gallons is recommended for the Desert Goby.
- What water parameters does the Desert Goby need?
- The Desert Goby does best with a temperature of 68–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Desert Goby aggressive?
- The Desert Goby is semi-aggressive. It can work in a community with careful tankmate choices and enough space.
- What does the Desert Goby eat?
- The Desert Goby is an omnivore. It does well on a varied diet of quality flake or pellet plus occasional frozen or live foods.
- How long does the Desert Goby live?
- With good care, the Desert Goby typically lives 1-1 years.