All fish / Oxudercidae (Gobiidae, Sicydiinae)

Annie's Stiphodon goby

Stiphodon annieae

Also known as annie's goby, stiphodon annieae goby, halmahera stiphodon, neon goby, スティフォドン・アニエアエ, ikan beloso

This small stream goby has a slim body with pelvic fins joined into a sucker so it can cling to rocks in fast water. Males show iridescent blue and dark tones, while females are paler with dark lengthwise stripes. Keepers like it for its colour and busy grazing behaviour in rocky, current-rich tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6.8 to 7.8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a larger group in a roomy tank

Diet

Omnivore: grazes biofilm and algae from rocks, plus small frozen and sinking foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia

Breeding

Eggs are laid under stones and guarded by the male, but the tiny larvae drift to the sea and need saltwater to develop. Raising the young in captivity is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

It needs clean, well-oxygenated, flowing water with mature algae-covered rocks and a tight lid, as it can climb glass. Males squabble over territory, and it is easily confused with other Stiphodon species sold under mixed names.