This tiny brackish-water fish can be territorial, provide plenty of hiding places and frequent feeds
Overview
Synonyms
Gobius mertoni, Tamanka mindora, Vaimosa layia
Distribution
Australia, Brunei, Indonesia,Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea,Philippines, Rodrigues, and Seychelles.
Maximum Size
8cm (3.2")
Temperature
25-28°C
Water Parameters
Brackish. Hard, alkaline. pH:7.5-8.8, dH: 12-25 degrees. Well oxygenated water is recommended.
Compatibility
Specialist community
Lighting
No special requirements
Sexual Dimorphism
Sexually dichromatic. Wellconditioned males will appear much more colourful than the fuller-bodiedfemales.
Feeding
Flake, granules and frozen foods
Description
Care
The Kanu Goby is known from marine, brackish, and freshwater environments, but is most commonly encountered in brackish estuaries, mangroves and coastal freshwater streams. A mature tank is necessary, with good filtration and water movement. The substrate should consist of soft sand, with ample resting places for the gobies such as pieces of driftwood (the spindly "Sumatra wood" that is sometimes available is ideal), plenty of caves formed from rocks/pieces of slate, and scatterings of cobbles/small pebbles. Plants are not strictly necessary " although they may make the tank more aesthetically pleasing. Advanced aquarists could try their hand at cultivating mangrove species to replicate the natural biotope. This species is best maintained as a male-female pair. If more than one pair is to be kept in the same aquarium, ensure that there is an abundance of visual barriers amongst the decor, and that the tank itself is spacious, otherwise the males may fight. Tankmates should be peaceful and of a similar size, and be aware that adult specimens will prey on tiny fish. Several different geographical color variations are known; some, such as the fish in the photograph which was caught at Padang, Western Sumatra, are extremely vibrant. This fish is also known as the "Chequered Mangrove Goby".
Feeding
These gobies require a variety of small meaty foodstuffs. Frozen daphnia, cyclops, bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and baby brineshrimp should all be taken with much enthusiasm. In time, they may also show interest in small sinking pallets/granules, and crushed flake.
Breeding
Unknown
Where can I buy these aquarium fish or invertebrates?
If you like this species and would like to find out more, we have an enormous range of aquarium fish and invertebrates available to buy in all of our stores across the UK (including freshwater tropical and marine fish).
However, please note that this species may not be available in your chosen store, even if the store specialises in this particular species. This is due to seasonality and stock availability from store-to-store. Please check with your local store about availability of specific species to purchase before making a journey.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
