Goby Cichlid
Eretmodus cyanostictus
Cichlidae
About
The goby cichlid is an unusual little rock-dweller endemic to the pounding surge zone of Lake Tanganyika, where fierce wave action keeps the shallows saturated with oxygen. Because it carries a reduced swim bladder and a heavy, negatively buoyant body, it does not truly swim so much as hop and perch between boulders like a marine goby. It is a herbivorous aufwuchs grazer, semi-aggressive and strongly territorial toward its own kind, yet it forms devoted monogamous pairs that stay together and share bi-parental mouthbrooding duties. Demanding hard, alkaline water and powerful, well-oxygenated flow, it is a rewarding specialist rather than a beginner's fish.
Care
Provide a mature, rock-filled tank of 110 L or more with hard, alkaline water (pH 8.2-8.7), strong current and very high oxygenation. Buy a group of youngsters to let a bonded pair form, then remove the rest, as adults are aggressive to their own species. Keep the diet vegetable-based to avoid bloat.
Diet
Specialised herbivore that grazes algal aufwuchs from rock. Feed spirulina flake, algae wafers and blanched greens; use small frozen foods sparingly and avoid rich, high-protein feeds.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (5)
Possible with care (70)
Avoid (196)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Goby Cichlid need?
- A Goby Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Goby Cichlid need?
- Goby Cichlid does best at 24–28 °C (75.2–82.4 °F), pH 8–9 and a general hardness of 9–25 °dGH.
- Is the Goby Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Goby Cichlid is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.