The knight goby is a native of the brackish waters of Southeast Asia. Like some other gobies, the knight goby can gradually adapt to living in either freshwater or saltwater. However, the knight goby tends to do best in freshwater with a tablespoon of salt added for every five gallons of water.
The knight goby is a bottom dwelling fish, but that doesn't mean they will spend all of their time there. My knight gobies prefer the bottom of the tank, but are often found at the mid and upper levels, especially at feeding time. However, the knight goby prefers to have caves, wood and other tank decorations to establish their own territories. Be aware that once you give the knight goby a cave to hide in, that is exactly what it will do. I brought home three knight gobies and placed them in a 30 gallon tank with lots of cave-like structures. Now they only come out after dark! So much for showing them off to friends! Other tank requirements for the knight goby will include a sandy or fine graveled substrate.
The knight goby will not need a large aquarium because they aren't a large fish. An adult knight goby usually will only grow to around 3 ½ inches long. It is suggested that you keep the knight gobies in at least a 30 gallon tank if you want to keep them in a group of four. While the knight gobies will often quarrel amongst themselves, they won't actually hurt each other. With a 30 gallon tank, a group of four knight gobies will have plenty of room to establish their own territories. However, on occasion, expect to see them chase each other!
If you would like to pair up knight gobies in groups of males and females, you will have to look closely at the fish to do so. Male knight gobies usually have larger fins. The female knight gobies are usually smaller, fatter and yellowish in color. If the knight gobies successfully pair up and mate, their eggs will be placed on the roof of their caves. The female will produce up to a 1000 eggs. Both the eggs and the fry will be guarded by both parents.
Ideal tank mates for knight gobies include mainly peaceful fish that won't eat the tiny gobies. Cichlids should be avoided since the knight goby will be nothing more than a small snack for them. While the knight goby is an extremely quick fish, eventually a predator fish can run it ragged. My knight gobies share a tank with some red finned cigar sharks, iridescent sharks, giant danios, corys and various loaches. This little goby also makes an ideal tank mate for such fish as glassfish and puffers.
Some pet stores and hobbyists may classify the knight goby as aggressive. These are the same folks that misclassify dragon fish as aggressive. The only aggression shown by a knight goby is usually toward each other, or when they are breeding! One of my knight gobies actually chased a cory for awhile, but I assume this was because the cory was similar in size and color to the knight goby. The knight goby probably thought the cory was another knight goby!
Like most gobies, the knight goby does have a big appetite. Because of this, many pet stores and hobbyists will tell you that the knight goby will eat smaller tank mates. Consider that this goby is usually purchased at a length between 1 to 2 inches long and only grows to 3 ½ inches long. Even if this were true, there's not much in an aquarium outside of fry that would be in danger. However, if you are still worried about this, you should try to feed your knight gobies a couple of times a day.
The knight goby will eat nearly anything. My knight gobies readily accept flake foods, shrimp pellets and blood worms. The knight goby will also appreciate black worms and brine shrimp. And since the knight goby is omnivorous, it will also eat algae!
The water in the knight goby's tank will need to have a pH from 7.5 to 8.0. The water temperature will need to range from 68 to 80 degrees. One of the knight goby's oddities is the fact that it will appreciate the water temperature to actually fluctuate! The knight goby likes the water to fluctuate a few degrees: higher temperatures in the day and lower temperatures at night! And as mentioned earlier, the knight gobies will need salt added to their water, usually a tablespoon to every five gallons.
The knight goby is a very hardy fish that can adjust to nearly any home aquarium. However, one should never try to acclimate a knight goby to a soft water tank. If the knight goby is healthy when you purchase it, and you've set up its new tank correctly, expect the knight goby to live for several years.
I found this info on
www.aquafriend.com/
I was thinking goby as well but not sure either. If it is a goby, that would mean its a brackish fish or no?
:
I love these fish!
