Blue Neon Goby

Appearance and Sexual Differences

• Short Description: This tiny bottom-dweller is prized for its appearance, using its modified pelvic fin to cling to rocks. It requires a mature aquarium setup to maintain its health and vibrant color.
• Coloration: Males are significantly more colorful, displaying a dark body that shimmers with a brilliant neon blue/green metallic sheen. Females are paler, typically having a creamy yellow body with black and turquoise horizontal stripes or spots.
• Fins: The characteristic feature is the pelvic fins fused into a suction cup, which is used to hold onto surfaces in strong currents.
• Behavior: They are constant grazers and peaceful. They thrive in a group (at least 5 individuals) but dominant males will establish small territories, especially around feeding sites.

Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons is the recommended minimum for a single goby or pair, but 30 gallons or more is ideal for groups and stable water quality.
• Schooling: Best kept in groups of at least 5 animals. Ensure a good female-to-male ratio (e.g., 2:1 or 3:1) to reduce male aggression.
• Temperature: Tropical range: 68∘–82∘F (20∘–28∘C). Lower temperatures can sometimes enhance male color. High oxygenation is critical, requiring significant surface agitation or supplemental aeration.
• pH Level: Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water: 6.5 to 7.5. They require clean water and excellent filtration (a 10–15x turnover rate is often needed).
• Aquascape: Replicate a hillstream environment. Use fine sand or smooth gravel, abundant smooth rocks, and driftwood that will grow natural biofilm. Focus on providing areas of strong, turbulent water flow.

Diet and Feeding

The Blue Neon Goby is a specialized limnivorous growth eater that feeds primarily on natural material.

• Staple Diet: Survival depends on a constant supply of algae, diatoms, and biofilm scraped from surfaces. The tank must be biologically mature.
• Supplementation: Offer high-quality, plant-rich sinking foods: algae wafers, spirulina flakes, or Repashy Solient Green. Occasionally provide finely chopped vegetables (e.g., blanched zucchini).
• Schedule: They are grazers; food should be available for continuous consumption. Only occasionally supplement with protein (like Brine Shrimp) as their digestive system is not designed for a high-protein diet.

Compatibility

• Caution: They are easily outcompeted for their essential food source by larger or faster bottom-dwellers (e.g., Corydoras in large numbers or aggressive Barbs).
• Good Tank Mates: Small, peaceful, mid-water fish that tolerate high flow, such as small Rasboras (e.g., Chili Rasbora, Harlequin), peaceful Tetras, and Hillstream Loaches. They are generally compatible with adult dwarf shrimp.