All fish / Oxudercidae

Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Also known as dragon goby, violet goby, purple dragon goby, dragon fish, eel goby, violet eel goby, dragonfish goby, バイオレットゴビー, 紫龙鱼, 龙鱼虎

A long, eel-like goby with a purplish grey body, a continuous fin along the back and small eyes, which gives it a fierce look despite a gentle nature. It is kept as an unusual bottom dweller that burrows and sifts the substrate.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or a small group in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: frozen bloodworm, brine shrymp, mysis, chopped shellfish and sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Western Atlantic coasts and estuaries from the southeastern USA and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil

Breeding

It breeds in estuaries with larvae that need salt water to develop, so captive breeding is almost unknown.

Good to know

Often sold as a freshwater fish but it needs brackish water to stay healthy over the long term. It reaches 30 cm or more, has poor eyesight and can be outcompeted for food, and will escape through small gaps.