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Teardrop Goby

Harvested from Nature

Sicyopus multisquamatus

Natural Range: Ceram Island, Indonesia

Source: Harvested from Nature

Estimated size at shipping: 1.5-2"

Max Size: around 3-4"

Sold as: Unsexed

Overview:

The king of the Sicyopus, Teardrop Gobies just might be the prettiest fish in the entire genus. Sporting bright orange body bands and orange on the anal fin and 2nd dorsal fin, these are simply spectacular!

Gobies of the Sicyopus genus are beautiful, personable fish that have adapted to a specialized amphidromous lifestyle. Adults live and spawn in freshwater streams which flow to the ocean. The tiny newly hatched larvae are too underdeveloped to be called fry at this stage. These larvae flow downstream to the ocean where they settle into the plankton cloud and feed on microscopic marine organisms. After they have grown and developed enough, the young fish then leave the ocean and continue upstream to their freshwater origins. In order to complete their journey home, the young fish must overcome torrential water currents. Often, they even have to climb waterfalls. Their specially developed pelvic fins form suction cups which, when used in conjunction with their gripping mouths, help them make it through these obstacles. With these adaptations, they are able to make it home and take advantage of pristine rocky stream environments that other fish species simply cannot reach.

Setup Considerations:

These gobies appreciate nooks, crannies, caves, and other little holes they can claim as their home territory. Also, while not strictly necessary for them to thrive, they do enjoy digging and burying themselves in fine sand substrates. They are not destructive diggers and do well in planted tanks, but they do like to bury themselves horizontally at night until only their tail and head are visible above the sand.

They are quite easy to keep in aquariums if one remembers that these fish come from pristine, oxygen rich stream environments. As long as the aquarium is well maintained and oxygen levels are maintained through filtration and flow, these fish generally thrive. It is inadvisable to keep them in newly established tanks as the risk of an ammonia or nitrite spike is just too high. A mature, well seasoned aquarium is the ideal home for this group of fish. Here at Dan's Fish, we keep them in aquariums with simple sponge and box filters and they do well, but they will also do well in hillstream setups with strong current.

Diet: Carnivore

Unlike the genuses Stiphodon and Sicyopterus which live in creeks exposed to bright sunlight, the Sicyopus Gobies live further upstream in the forests where less light reaches the water and there is much less algae growth. There is not enough algae to sustain them, so they have become little carnivores. While they may occasionally scrape a bit of biofilm or algae in the aquarium, their main diet should consist of protein rich foods such as frozen bloodworm. They can sometimes be trained to eat prepared foods, but not always. Generally, they need frozen and/or live foods in order to thrive.

Current Price: $69.99

Stock Level: 2

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