Home / Fishes / Gobies and sleepers / Bumblebee fish
No federal permit to keepBumblebee fish
Brachygobius xanthozona
Fishes › Gobies and sleepers (Gobiiformes) › Gobiidae (Gobies)
The bumblebee fish (Brachygobius xanthozonus) is a species of fresh and brackish water goby native to Thailand and Indonesia.
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 1.5 in / 3.8 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 77–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
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
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Gobies
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed gobies span marine sand burrows and rocky coasts as well as freshwater streams, where Stiphodon grazes biofilm in clear, oxygen-rich water. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Valenciennea puellaris, provide at least 30 US gallons, live sand and a populated attached refugium.
- For Stiphodon ornatus, provide a base at least 80 × 30 cm (about 31 × 12 inches).
- Provide mature, illuminated, algae-covered rocks and strong oxygenation for Stiphodon.
- Seat Stiphodon rocks directly on the tank base, break sight lines with refuges and fit a tight cover.
- V. puellaris is sourced at specific gravity 1.020–1.025 and pH 8.1–8.4; adult Stiphodon require freshwater, pH 6.5–7.5 and 2–12 dGH.
Diet
- For Valenciennea: live or frozen mysis and brine shrimp, fed frequently.
- For Valenciennea: live blackworms and prepared carnivore foods.
- For Stiphodon: mature algal biofilm and associated microorganisms.
Social life
- Valenciennea puellaris fights conspecifics unless they are a mated pair. Separate Stiphodon male territories with rockwork; one social arrangement cannot represent this family.
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species can reach a length of 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) SL and is found in lower parts of rivers, coastal areas, mangroves and highly vegetated areas.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Bumblebee fish” (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. Stays near the bottom. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
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.
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 bumblebee fish (Brachygobius xanthozonus) is a species of fresh and brackish water goby native to Thailand and Indonesia. This species can reach a length of 3.8 cm SL and is found in lower parts of rivers, coastal areas, mangroves and highly vegetated areas. — 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 |
| Biology | Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm. — FishBase |
| History and naming | Brachygobius xanthozona is distinct from many of the other species in the genus Brachygobius and has been placed by some ichthyologists in the genus Hypogymnogobius. — 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.
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.
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 — Stiphodon ornatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- LiveAquaria — Diamond Watchman Goby Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Tropical Fish Hobbyist — Gobies in My Aquarium Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded 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.
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