Neon Blue Goby

The neon blue goby is a small goby that lives in the clear mountain streams of tropical islands. Males are eye-catching with cobalt-blue stripes glowing on their dark bodies; females carry two dark lengthwise stripes on a cream background. It clings to stones and glass with a sucker formed by its fused pelvic fins and scrapes the algae film off surfaces with its mouth. Breeding it in the aquarium is almost impossible: in the wild the larvae drift out to sea and develop there.

• At least 60 liters for a small group; flat stones and a gravel substrate.
• Strong flow and plenty of oxygen; a layout that imitates a stream.
• Algae-covered stones are essential; it should not be added to a newly set-up tank.
• A tight-fitting lid: it escapes by climbing the glass.

Its main food is the layer of algae and microorganisms on stones. Supplement with algae wafers, spirulina and small frozen foods; in a tank without algae it quickly becomes thin.

Peaceful toward other species; males display among themselves over stone territories, but serious fights are rare.

Good companions: small, calm species that like flow: Chinese hillstream loaches (Sewellia, Gastromyzon), small danios, dwarf shrimp.

Avoid: large and aggressive species, large sucker-mouthed fish that compete for algae, species that need still, warm water.