Care
The Yellowbelly Gudgeon is known from clear, moderately-flowing tropical rainforest tributaries with gravel or mud substrates. These fascinating bottom-dwellers can be a little territorial at times, so a spacious well furnished aquarium should be provided. In the wild, Yellowbelly Gudgeon are found amongst rocks, pebbles, and marginal areas of vegetation and roots. As such, the aquarium should contain plenty of aquatic plants and rock piles, cobbles, coconut caves, bogwood tangles, PVC pipes etc, which will help to create visual barriers. Breaking up the lines of sight should enable multiple specimens to be kept in the same tank. As these fish spend the majority of the time on the base of the aquarium, it is best to provide a substrate of soft sand or smooth, small-sized pea gravel. Filtration should be efficient, with reasonable water movement and a good level of oxygenation. Choose tankmates with care, as although these are generally peaceful fish, they are considered micropredators and are capable of taking tiny fish and fry. Avoid keeping with other territorial bottom-dwellers. May also be seen on sale as Papuan Multicolour Goby.
Feeding
Small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, black mosquito larvae, daphnia, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc. These fish do not often take dried foods.
Breeding
The fish should be well conditioned with live foods and the water temperature set to the top of the preferred range. Following an elaborate and often lengthy courtship display, the male will lure the female into a suitable cave. After a time, a good-sized cluster of eggs will be laid on a solid surface, which the male will vigorously guard and fan with his pectoral fins. If the tank is a little on the small side, the male may aim his attacks towards the female (and other bottom dwellers), and these fish may need to be moved to another tank. The eggs usually hatch in 8-10 days, depending on the water temperature. The young are able to take
Artemia nauplii as soon as they have absorbed their small yolk sacs.
