Care
Generally fishes of moving water, this adaptable species is also found in lake habitats.
Rhinogobius tend to be found in oxygen-rich habitats and their aquarium should replicate these conditions, with powerful filtration and possibly additional powerheads to create a high flow rate and good levels of oxygenation. Gobies have modified pelvic fins which create an area of suction and allow them to cling on to smooth rocks in swift currents. The aquarium should have a substrate of smooth fine gravel or sand, and some cobbles and flat stones should be used to create that stream bed effect. Robust plants that are capable of coping with extreme flow can also be used. This species can be kept alongside other peaceful temperate fish which like a good amount of current e.g., many of the Danio/Devario species and the 'sucker-bellied' Hillstream Loaches. Males may spar with one another, but providing the tank is spacious enough with plenty of hiding places, this will not pose a problem. In smaller aquaria, however, it is suggested that only a single male-female pair are housed together. Due to their preference for small live and frozen meaty foods, this species is not to be trusted with tiny fish or fry.
Feeding
Will quickly learn to take flake and granules, especially as they move through the water column in the current. Small live and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp, daphnia etc. are readily taken.
Breeding
Spawning accounts are rare and many of these fishes have a marine larval stage, where newly hatched fry are swept downstream to develop before migrating back upriver. The presence of this species as an invasive in lake habitats outside of its natural range would indicate that it’s capable of breeding successfully in freshwater.
Spawning takes place in typical style for this genus, the male will dig out a small depression under a rocky overhang to create a shallow cave and entices the female into this area by an elaborate courtship dance. When ready to spawn, the female moves into this area with the male and eggs are deposited on the ceiling. The male then remains in the cave and guards/fans the eggs. Once these hatch, the parent fish should be removed from the tank to avoid predation on the fry.
