Bumble Bee Goby (Brachygobius doriae)

The Bumble Bee Goby (Brachygobius doriae) is a tiny, charming nano fish dressed in bold black and gold bands, like a little bumblebee hovering through the lower levels of the tank. Reaching barely an inch and a half, it spends its day perched on rocks and roots, darting out to snap up food, then retreating to its favorite hiding spot. It is a peaceful, captivating centerpiece for a small species tank, best suited to keepers who can offer the meaty foods and stable, hard water it prefers.

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Care Guide

Bumble Bee Gobies thrive in hard, alkaline water and do best kept in a small group of six or more in a nano tank of 10 gallons or larger. Give them a sandy bottom, smooth rocks, driftwood, and plenty of caves and crevices to claim as territory. They are peaceful toward other species but will gently spar over favorite hiding spots, so more decor means less squabbling.

The single most important part of their care is diet. These are fussy micro-predators that usually refuse dry flake. Feed small live or frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, cyclops, and daphnia. Because they are slow, deliberate feeders, avoid housing them with fast, greedy tankmates that will out-compete them at mealtime.

Quick Care Specs

Compatibility

Best kept in a peaceful nano or species tank. Good companions include other small, calm fish that will not bully them or steal food, along with algae-eating nerite snails and gentle shrimp. Avoid large, boisterous, or fin-nipping fish. Because Bumble Bee Gobies are slow feeders, the calmer the tank, the better they eat and color up.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Meaty frozen and live foods are a must: frozen bloodworms, baby brine shrimp, and cyclops.
• Keep water pristine and dechlorinated with a quality conditioner like Seachem Prime.
• Live plants and mosses such as Java Moss give them cover and grazing surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will they eat flake food? Usually not. Bumble Bee Gobies are picky micro-predators that prefer small live and frozen foods. Plan to keep frozen bloodworms or baby brine shrimp on hand.

Do they need brackish water? No. While they tolerate a touch of salt, this species does very well in hard, alkaline freshwater. Stable, mineral-rich water matters more than salt.

Can I keep just one? They are happiest in a group of six or more, which brings out natural behavior and spreads out their mild territorial sparring.

How big do they get? Only about an inch and a half, which makes them perfect nano-tank residents.