The purple goby, also known as Brachygobius xanthozonus, is a small species of goby native to freshwater streams and rivers in Southeast Asia. Purple gobies get their name from their bright violet-colored bodies and fins. They have an elongated body shape and can reach up to 3 inches in length in captivity.
Introduce Purple goby freshwater
General Information
- Origin: Purple gobies are found across Southeast Asia in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. They inhabit slow-moving freshwater habitats including rivers, streams, swamps, and rice paddies.
- Size: In the wild, grow to around 2 inches. In home aquariums, they can reach up to 3 inches in length with proper care and feeding.
- Lifespan: Their average lifespan is 3-5 years in captivity. Some well-cared for purple gobies have lived over 7 years.
- Temperament: Peaceful community fish when housed with other calm species. They should not be kept with aggressive fish. Spend most of their time near the bottom but will venture to all levels of the tank.
- Appearance: Purple gobies have an elongated, torpedo-shaped body. Their eyes are set high on the head. Most varieties have bright purple or violet bodies while the fins can range from clear to yellow to orange.
- Popular Varieties: Some common purple goby color morphs include:
- Solid purple: Entire body is a deep, rich purple hue.
- Amethyst: Shades of light and dark violet coloration.
- Citrine: Purple body with bright yellow-orange fins.
- Half-black: Front half of body is black, rear is purple.
- Price: Purple gobies typically cost $8-$15 USD each for juveniles. Rarer varieties can fetch prices over $30.
Habitat and Tank Requirements
- Natural Habitat: In the wild, inhabit shallow, slow-flowing freshwater streams, rice paddies, swamps, and ponds usually with sandy or muddy substrate and abundant vegetation.
- Tank Size: A 10 gallon aquarium is suitable for a small group of 3-5 purple gobies. Provide at least 5 gallons per additional fish.
- Water Parameters: Thrive in slightly acidic water between pH 5.5-7.0 and a temperature range of 70-82°F.
- Tank Setup: Purple gobies need plenty of hiding spots like rock caves, driftwood, and dense plants. Use a fine sandy substrate and dim lighting to mimic their natural environment.
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivores that need both plant and animal matter. Offer foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and high quality flakes with vegetable matter.
- Feeding Habits: They are not aggressive eaters and need multiple small meals per day. Be careful not to overfeed purple gobies as they are prone to bloating.
Recommended Foods:
- Live or frozen brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Daphnia
- Micro pellets
- Spirulina flakes
- Blanched vegetables like zucchini
Breeding
- Reproduction: Egg scatterers that do not display complex breeding behaviors. They randomly scatter adhesive eggs in plants, on decorations, and substrate. No parental care is provided.
- Breeding Requirements: To induce spawning, perform large water changes with slightly cooler water between 72-75°F. Well-fed, healthy fish may spawn spontaneously in community tanks.
- Spawning Process: During spawning embraces, the female releases up to 300 eggs which are fertilized by the male. The eggs hatch in 22-30 hours. Fry are tiny but become free-swimming within 4-5 days and can be fed infusoria or powdered fry foods.
Common Health Issues
- Ich: An external protozoal infection that produces white salt-like spots on skin and fins. Treat with medications containing malachite green or formalin.
- Fin rot: Bacterial infection that causes frayed, rotting fins. Improve water quality and treat with antibiotics.
- Intestinal parasites: Can cause wasting, bloating, and loss of appetite. Use anti-parasitic medications.
- Constipation and blockages: Due to overfeeding and poor diet. Fast fish for 1-2 days then feed peas.
Prevent health problems with excellent water quality, varied diet, and quarantining new fish. Perform partial water changes twice weekly.
Special Considerations
- Compatibility: Fare well in peaceful community tanks with small tetras, rasboras, danios, white cloud minnows, dwarf cichlids, and other calm species. Avoid nippy fish.
- Care: Perform regular partial water changes, test water parameters, and feed a variety of foods. Quarantine new additions. Check decor for sharp edges that may tear fins.
- Legalities: None. Easy to obtain and legal to keep in most regions.
Compatible Tankmates:
- Ember tetras
- Harlequin rasboras
- Celestial pearl danios
- Pygmy corydoras
- Otocinclus catfish
- Sparkling gouramis
- Badis badis
Sexual Differences:
Males are smaller and more colorful. Females are larger in size and plainer in appearance. Males may also develop longer fin extensions.
In summary, the purple goby is a delightfully colored fish species ideal for peaceful freshwater aquariums. With proper care, these exotic Southeast Asian fish can thrive for years, displaying their vibrant hues and engaging behaviors. Let us know if you have any other questions about keeping!
How many species of purple goby are there?
There is only one recognized species, Brachygobius xanthozonus. The different color morphs seen in captivity are all variations of this single species.
How to feed purple goby to make their color brighter?
Offer foods rich in carotenoids like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and vegetarian flakes. Carotenoids enhance purple goby coloration.
How big do they grow?
In home aquariums, purple gobies reach about 2-3 inches in length when fully grown. Proper diet and care is needed to reach maximum size.
How fast do purple gobies grow?
With ideal tank conditions, purple gobies can reach their full adult size within 12-18 months. Growth rate depends on feeding frequency, diet, genetics, and other factors.
How long do they live?
Their average lifespan is 3-5 years in home aquariums. With pristine water quality and proper care, purple gobies may live over 7 years.
How to care for purple gobies?
Perform regular water changes, feed a varied diet, maintain stable water parameters, and provide plenty of live plants and hiding spots. Check compatibility with tankmates.
What are the best fish foods for purple gobies?
Recommended brands include Omega One and New Life Spectrum. Feed a mix of micro pellets, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and spirulina flakes 2-3 times daily.
Are purple gobies good pets?
Yes, purple gobies are interesting, hardy, and peaceful fish that are suitable for community aquariums. Their unique colors and behaviors make them appealing.
Why did my purple goby die?
Common causes include poor water quality, malnutrition, fighting with tankmates, parasites, diseases, or old age. Troubleshoot your tank conditions and care regimen.
Are purple gobies aggressive?
No, they are not aggressive towards other fish. Purple gobies are timid and may become targets for bullying by rowdy tankmates. Do not house them with fin nippers.
Do purple gobies eat other fish?
Purple gobies are small omnivores that only eat tiny invertebrates and plant matter. They do not harm other fish but may nibble at long finnage.
As a professional aquarist, you might be looking for a website that can help you with your aquaristic needs. You might want to find information about different species of FreshWater Fish, SaltWater Fish, plants, corals, and invertebrates, as well as their care Equipment, compatibility, and behavior. You might also want to learn about the best equipment, products, and techniques for setting up and maintaining your aquariums. You might also want to connect with other aquarists and share your Diseases & Cures experiences, tips, and photos.
If that sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place. Our Website King Aquarium is dedicated to providing you with everything you need to know about aquaristics & Invertebrates.