Bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Bumblebee fish
Family
Gobiidae (gobies)
Origin
Western Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei) and the Natuna Islands, Indonesia; coastal mangroves, estuaries and tidal streams over mud, sand and silt.
Water
brackish
Maximum size
3.5 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Hardness
Hard, 8–20 dGH
Minimum tank
41 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive

Care

Bumblebee gobies live in coastal mangroves and tidal streams, and although they cope in fresh water they do best in hard, alkaline water with a little salt. Seriously Fish suggests about 2 g of marine salt per litre where needed. Do not keep them in soft, acidic water. Males are territorial, so keep a group of six or more in a tank with a base of at least 45 × 30 cm (about 41 litres) to spread aggression. Provide a sandy bottom with lots of small caves, shells, rocks and roots so each fish can claim a spot. Aim for 22–28 °C and pH 7–8.5. Identification is tricky. Several Brachygobius species look alike; according to Seriously Fish, the fish commonly traded are B. doriae and B. sabanus, while B. xanthozonus, a name often used in shops, is not currently in the hobby. Fish labelled 'B. xanthozonus' are most likely one of the other two. Nearly all stock is wild-caught. The IUCN lists B. doriae as Least Concern. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/brachygobius-doriae/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Brachygobius-doriae.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachygobiusdoriae). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Needs small live foods such as brine shrimp and Daphnia. Some learn to take frozen foods, but most refuse dried food, so plan for a steady supply of live or frozen food.

Breeding

A cave spawner. The female lays eggs inside a small cave and the male guards them; incubation takes around 7–9 days. The fry are tiny and need microscopic foods at first before moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp. Raising the young is the difficult part.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not a community fish. Best kept in a species tank. Their need for hard, slightly brackish water and live food makes them hard to combine with most freshwater fish; small, peaceful brackish fish are the only sensible tankmates. Anything large will eat them, and they will eat small shrimp.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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