Order Perciformes
Suborder Gobioidei
Family Gobiidae
Genus Brachygobius.
They are typical inhabitants of brackish waters in Southeast Asia. The body is dense, completely round at the front, and laterally compressed only near the base of the caudal fin. A characteristic feature of the entire goby family is the partially or completely fused pelvic fins. They form a sucker disk, which the fish use to hold tightly onto the substrate.
When in good condition, the body color ranges from yellow to light brown with dark brown to black transverse stripes extending onto the dorsal and anal fins, which may transform into spots and speckles of various shapes.
The characteristic stripe pattern of one fish species can vary greatly and match that of another species. Specimens with an almost black coloration can occur. Males are always more brightly colored; during the spawning period, their transverse stripes may disappear, while females acquire a rich coloration.
In brackish water, the coloration of the fish becomes most vivid. In freshwater, the fish lose their intense coloration and become inconspicuous. Identification of Brachygobius depends on the stripe pattern, habitat, and individual morphological nuances.
Peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish, they fully reveal their behavior when kept in a group in a species aquarium containing rocks, caves, driftwood, and patches of plants. Representatives of the genus are calm fish that avoid the company of fast and restless neighbors and prefer a peaceful pastime.
Most of the time, Brachygobius swim freely in the aquarium, but they can also sit for hours on a plant leaf or rock, attaching to it with their pelvic fins. Therefore, in community aquariums, they do not get along well with restless neighbors.
Daytime water temperature should be maintained between 25 and 30°C, and a few degrees lower at night. With a constant temperature throughout the day, the fish become apathetic and sluggish. Slightly brackish water is preferred (1 teaspoon of sea salt per 2 liters of water). Aeration, filtration, and regular water changes are mandatory. It is best to keep them in a species aquarium measuring 60x30x30 cm.
Salt-tolerant plants can be used: Cryptocoryne ciliata, Anubias barteri var. nana, Najas indica, Samolus valerandi, Ludwigia repens. Live and frozen foods (bloodworms, Artemia) are used for feeding; they are difficult to train to accept dry food.
They mature at 8–12 months. Spawning is in pairs, both in a species aquarium and a spawning tank. The male occupies a shelter (rocks, driftwood, ceramic tube, etc.) and drives other fish away from it. At a temperature of about 28°C, the fry hatch in four days, and the males begin to guard them. At this time, the male will protect the brood from all visitors, including the female, so the aquarium must have shelters where she can hide. They live up to 3 years. Hardness 8–20°; pH 6.8–8.0; temperature 24–30°C, salinity 2–5% (this is especially important during fish illness and spawning season).
— Doria’s Bumblebee Goby — Brachygobius doriae [Günther, 1868]. Synonyms: Hypogymnogobius, Gobius doriae. (English: Bumble Bee Goby, Golden Banded Goby). Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia — in brackish and freshwater coastal waters with slow currents and abundant vegetation. 4 cm.
The body is cylindrical, laterally compressed, with a short head. There are two dorsal fins: the first with hard rays, the second with soft rays. This is a tiny goby with an attractive contrasting appearance.
Gray-yellow with 4 dark brown irregular transverse stripes and black-brown speckles on the lower part of the head and gill covers. The head, second dorsal, and anal fins are yellow. Males are smaller than females and more brightly colored.
Preference should be given to shallow tanks with the largest possible bottom area. The aquarium must have plenty of shelters as they are very territorial. Despite the pronounced territoriality inherent in males, they fit wonderfully into the community of a general aquarium.
They lead an exclusively bottom-dwelling lifestyle, paying absolutely no attention to neighbors from other water layers. They get along well with any peaceful inhabitants of tropical waters. The presence of other bottom-dwelling fish in the tank is undesirable, as are overly swift and intrusive neighbors.
The substrate should be sandy, and water movement kept to a minimum. They feel much better in brackish conditions. Any deterioration in water quality causes stress to the fish; moreover, they can suffer from bacterial or fungal infections. They prefer small live and frozen foods, and refuse to consume dry foods.
Breeding in warm, salted water. Spawning takes place in a cave, which can be made of any material in the form of a tube. The male guards the clutch. T 22–29°C; dH 10–20°; pH 7.0–8.5, salinity 2–5%.
— Pale Bumblebee Goby — Brachygobius xanthomelas [Herre, 1937]. (English: Pale Bumblebee Goby). Southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. 2 cm. The body is cylindrical and quite short with a wide mouth. They have two dorsal fins located one behind the other.
The coloration is mostly muted gray, but from time to time they become much more yellow, with contrasting 4 dark brown, almost black stripes. The first dorsal fin is almost transparent, the second is dark in the upper part. Males and females do not differ from each other.
A small species aquarium with a soft sandy substrate, dense vegetation, and plenty of branching driftwood. Like all Brachygobius, these fish spend a lot of time swimming rapidly among rocks or resting on driftwood or leaves of the lower aquarium tier.
Very territorial, they do not tolerate guests in their territory. They often fight among themselves over territory, but usually without serious consequences. They should be kept in a group and can be combined with small, calm species such as guppies.
The bottom should consist of rounded gravel, with rocks and pieces of wood placed on it. Plant some Java moss on the driftwood, and a few plants along the sides and back wall of the aquarium. They originate exclusively from fresh water, so salt may not be added. Feeding Brachygobius can be a challenge as they very rarely take flake food. They are picky eaters, preferring small live foods, frozen cyclops, and Artemia. pH 7.0–8.0; dH 15–25°; T 22–28°C.
Identification: Genus Brachygobius — Brachygobius doriae, xanthomelas.
Brachygobius nunus, Brachygobius xanthozonus.
Genus Chlamydogobius, Genus Rhinogobius. 
