Home / Fishes / Gobies and sleepers / Atlantic mudskipper
No federal permit to keepAtlantic mudskipper
Periophthalmus barbarus
Fishes › Gobies and sleepers (Gobiiformes) › Oxudercidae (Mudskippers and gobies)
The Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) is a species of mudskipper native to fresh, marine, and brackish waters of the tropical Atlantic coasts of Africa, including most offshore islands.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 5.8 in / 14.7 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 77–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Lives around reefs and rockwork: give caves, overhangs and swimming room along the rock.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 77–86 °F, pH 7–8.5, 10–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The set-up must have exposed land areas.”
- Diet: “Feeds chiefly on crabs, insects and other invertebrates in the wild but is surprisingly adaptable in captivity.”
- Tankmates: “It is highly territorial with conspecifics and should not be kept with small fish as they may be eaten.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Mudskippers and gobies
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed Periophthalmus are amphibious shoreline fishes using intertidal mudflats and mangrove margins. [fg320-mud-zoo, fg320-mud-study]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For one P. barbarus, a 48 x 12 x 12 inch paludarium is the published minimum; prioritize floor area.
- Provide exposed sand or mud banks and accessible water, rather than a fully submerged aquarium.
- Fit a secure lid to retain humid air and prevent climbing escapes; keep air and water equally warm.
- For P. barbarus, use marine salt to approximately SG 1.005 and efficient filtration.
Climate & lighting
| Warm side / daytime | 77–86°F |
| Water | 77–86°F |
Diet
- Thawed bloodworms and Artemia.
- Live flies, crickets and worms.
- Mysis and small live brine shrimp were used in captive research.
Social life
- Prefer a species enclosure; keep P. barbarus singly unless ample separate territories are available, because males can severely injure rivals.
Health watch
- Bite wounds from territorial aggression.
- Bloating associated with dried foods.
- Desiccation risk when humid conditions and access to water are inadequate.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The Greek scientific name Periophthalmus barbarus is named after the eyes that provide the Atlantic mudskipper with a wide field of vision. The Atlantic mudskipper is a member of the genus Periophthalmus, which includes oxudercine gobies that have one row of canine-like teeth.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Atlantic mudskipper” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water and the sea, in estuaries, mangroves, the intertidal zone. Lives around reefs. Found on muddy substrates and in brackish waters of estuaries, lagoons and mangrove swamps. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water / marine, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 77–86 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 63°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 77–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 82–86% on average (driest month about 81%) |
| Rainfall | about 1687 mm a year |
Measured at 82 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) is a species of mudskipper native to fresh, marine, and brackish waters of the tropical Atlantic coasts of Africa, including most offshore islands. The Greek scientific name Periophthalmus barbarus is named after the eyes that provide the Atlantic mudskipper with a wide field of vision. The Atlantic mudskipper is a member of the genus Periophthalmus, which includes oxudercine gobies that have one row of canine-like teeth. The Atlantic mudskipper can grow up to 25 cm in body length. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Probably a multiple spawner. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 14.7 cm sl male/unsexed. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Found on muddy substrates and in brackish waters of estuaries, lagoons and mangrove swamps. Occasionally found in freshwater, but always close to the shore (, 79590 ). Amphibious air-breather that skips or walks on sand or mud in search of food; that is, on exposed intertidal mud flats of estuarine mangrove swamps. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The Atlantic mudskippers are classified under oxudercine gobies, all of which live both on land and in water. Atlantic mudskippers dig burrows to seek refuge and reproduce. Previously, the Oxudercidae family was described as a one-species family, where members of the family were collectively named the species Oxuderces dentatus. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Maximum recorded lifespan
Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Trophic attributes of the mudskipper, Periophthalmus barbarus (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) in the mangrove swamps of Imo River Estuary, Nigeria Udo MT et al., Journal of environmental sciences (China) 2002
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Periophthalmus barbarus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Aquarium of the Pacific: Atlantic Mudskipper Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Paternal help in larval release of three mudskipper species Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.