Bumblebee fish

Description

The bumblebee fish (Brachygobius xanthozonus) is a species of fresh and brackish water goby native to Thailand and Indonesia. This species can reach a length of 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) SL and is found in lower parts of rivers, coastal areas, mangroves and highly vegetated areas. Brachygobius xanthozona is distinct from many of the other species in the genus Brachygobius and has been placed by some ichthyologists in the genus Hypogymnogobius. It is very rare in the wild, and has not been imported as an aquarium fish, despite the widespread use of the name in the aquarium literature. Brachygobius is a small genus of gobies. They are popular aquarium fish where a number of species are sold as bumblebee gobies because their colours are similar to those of bumblebees. Bumblebee gobies range in size from 1.5 cm to 4 cm. They are generally coloured black with pale yellow to orange bands. Males are generally slimmer than females and often have more vivid colours, typically orange rather than yellow. Females may also have smaller and rounder heads. When spawning, the colours of the males become deeper, the orange bands becoming red in the case of Brachygobius doriae. This genus is informally divided by taxonomists into the dwarf Brachygobius nunus-species group (e.g., B. nunus, B. aggregatus, and B. mekongensis) and the bigger Brachygobius doriae-species group (e.g., B. doriae, B. sabanus, and B. xanthomelas). Bumblebee gobies are found across Southern and Southeast Asia primarily in freshwater habitats but also in slightly brackish waters. These gobies are oviparous. Eggs are deposited in a cave where they are guarded by the male. Clutch size is around 150-200 eggs. The eggs hatch after around seven days and the fry become free swimming another five to seven days later. Bumblebee gobies are popular aquarium fish. A tank around 40 liters in size will house a dozen specimens comfortably. Under good conditions they can live in an aquarium for around 5 years. The most commonly traded species in the hobby belong to the Brachygobius doriae-species group but the smaller Brachygobius nunus is also traded occasionally. Although many aquarium books use the name Brachygobius xanthozona, this species is very rare in the wild and is not commercially traded.