All fish / Oxudercidae (Gobiidae, Sicydiinae)

Neon Blue Goby

Stiphodon semoni

Also known as cobalt blue goby, semoni goby, blue neon goby, neon stiphodon, stiphodon goby, blue stiphodon, rainbow stiphodon, ルリボウズハゼ, ikan beloso biru, 蓝宝石虾虎, 霓虹蓝虾虎

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A small stream goby whose males show bright metallic blue stripes on a dark body, while females are paler brown with dark lines. It is kept for its striking colour and busy grazing behaviour on rocks in fast, clean, well oxygenated water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

21 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: grazes biofilm and algae, plus small frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and nearby western Pacific islands

Breeding

Males guard eggs laid under stones, but the larvae drift to the sea and need marine conditions to develop before returning to fresh water. Raising the young in home aquariums is very rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs mature tanks with plenty of algae and biofilm, strong flow and a tight lid as it can climb glass. Males squabble over territory, and the name neon blue goby is also used for other Stiphodon species.