All fish / Eleotridae

Banded Mogurnda

Mogurnda cingulata

Also known as banded gudgeon, banded purple-spotted gudgeon, mogurnda cingulata, cingulata gudgeon

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A stocky sleeper goby from New Guinea with dark vertical bands over a brownish body flecked with red and blue spots, and bright edging on the fins. It is kept by enthusiasts of unusual gobies for its colour and its interesting territorial and parental behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

A pair or singly; give each fish its own cave

Diet

Carnivore: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, small earthworms and meaty pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea (Sepik and Ramu region)

Breeding

A cave or flat-stone spawner; the female lays an adhesive clutch on a hard surface and the male guards and fans the eggs until they hatch. It has been bred in home aquariums, and the fry take newly hatched brine shrimp after the yolk is used up.

Good to know

Territorial towards its own kind and other bottom dwellers, and it will eat fish small enough to swallow. Rarely traded and can be confused with other Mogurnda species, so check identity and locality when buying.