Bumblebee Gobies - Advice Please

[TeddyBass]

My LFS has some of these in stock. I have done some reading up and am aware of the Brackish/Freshwater 'debate'. my intention is to keep about 6 in my freshwater community tank with the current occupants, ( 2 Dwarf Gourami's, 5 Guppies, 6 Cherry Barbs and 2 White Tipped Tetras )

Please help if you can with a few queries.

1. Will they eat my plants ( Amazon Sword & Java Fern )

2. Are they happy in water with a PH of between 7.6 and 8.0

3. Any issues with any of my existing fish stock.

4. What is their life expectancy in freshwater

5. I believe they like bloodworm but tend to use the bottom half of a tank. Any tips to ensure my other fish dont scoff it first and leave them to starve.

6. Will they eat flaked fish food.

Any other pointers would be very welcome

 

[nmonks]

My intention is to keep about 6 in my freshwater community tank with the current occupants, ( 2 Dwarf Gourami's, 5 Guppies, 6 Cherry Barbs and 2 White Tipped Tetras )

There's no apostrophe in the plural of "gourami".

1. Will they eat my plants ( Amazon Sword & Java Fern )

No.

2. Are they happy in water with a PH of between 7.6 and 8.0

Yes.

3. Any issues with any of my existing fish stock.

Not really, no, though territorial BBGs will chase fish that get too close, and some have reported them nipping the fins of fish unable to swim away. Fancy guppies could be at risk. Never seen this behaviour myself, and my BBGs completely ignore the Limia nigrofasciata they live with.

4. What is their life expectancy in freshwater

About 2-4 years, same as most other small gobies.

5. I believe they like bloodworm but tend to use the bottom half of a tank. Any tips to ensure my other fish dont scoff it first and leave them to starve.

If the tank is densely planted, the BBGs usually manage to find a few bloodworms before the other fish do, but the bottom line is you shouldn't mix them with hyperactive, greedy fish.

6. Will they eat flaked fish food.

No.

Cheers, Neale

 

[TeddyBass]

Thanks for the advice Neale. Even the correction regarding the apostrophe !!

 

[blueline-uk]

Thanks for the advice Neale. Even the correction regarding the apostrophe !!

mine eat flaked food, the colour enhancing range anyway....
as well as their bloodworms

 

[jennybugs]

Can I just add with regard to the brackish/freshwater topic that mine are seemingly becoming much happier as my salinity is increasing from fw to low end bw No clamped fins, eating well (live bloodworm, bits of chopped mussel and cockles) and swimming around establishing territories Not saying they can or can't live in whatever, just that mine seem more comfy in brackish.

 

[Eyebiter]

How much salt is needed to keep them healthy? Teaspoon per gallon? per 3 gallons? Would it have to be enough to do harm to freshwater fish? I know most FW fish can handle some salt but does the goby need more then that?

 

[DarkEntity]

How much salt is needed to keep them healthy? Teaspoon per gallon? per 3 gallons? Would it have to be enough to do harm to freshwater fish? I know most FW fish can handle some salt but does the goby need more then that?

"salt" wont work it needs to be marine salt to raise a tank from fresh to brackish. If you do that though you will need to make sure your other fish can take brackish water.