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Hypogymnogobius xanthozona, Bleeker, 1849

Origin:Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Sarawak(Borneo), in fresh and brackish water.

Etymology: Xanthozona refers to the yellow bands.

Synonyms: Gobius xanthozona, Thaigobiella sua, Brachygobius nunus?.

First European import: Germany, 1905, by J. Reichelt.

Description:See pictures. (Could also be Brachygobius doriae, difference=?)

Care: The fish require a higher pH, 7.5-8.5, and hard water(20dGH and higher), adding some salt to the water is advised. In normal community tanks the fish will usually perish, it's better to keep them in a small 40 cm species tank with hardy plants(salt), and lots of hiding places. Sandy soil or flatstones at the bottom, not too much current, and frequent waterchanges.

Temperature: 24-28 degrees.

Feeding:Only small live food is taken.

Size:4.5 cm.

pH: 7.5-8.5

Breeding: If kept as described in the care section, and fed with a varied diet the fish will spawn. The female will deveop and eggtube before spawning, and the fish will lay up to 200 eggs in a hole. The male will care for and protect the eggs, which will hatch over a period of time(between 2-6 da). Fry are approximately 4 mm when they hatch, and will start to swim to the surface 40 Hours after hatching the yolk sac is consumed, and the fry will start to eat small live food. 5 Days later they can be fed with artemia nauplii. The fry grow slow, and won't show the parental coloration until they are approximately a month old.

Sexual dimorphism:Females are bigger and thicker,and less colorfull.

Prices:Netherlands: 2-3.5€.

Additional: Pinter reports that most of the imported fish are females.

Picture references: All pictures: E. Naus.

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)Pinter, H.(1966): Handbuch der Aquarienfischzucht. Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.