- Scientific name: Brachygobius Xanthozona
- Common Name: Waspfish, Gold-ringed goby, Wasp goby
- Aquarium size: 80 liters
- Temperament: Calm
- Temperature: 25ºC to 30ºC
- pH: Between 7.5 and 8.5
- Diet: Carnivore
- Length: 5 cms
Description
The Waspfish, Brachygobius Xanthozona, is a relatively quiet, though territorial, small goby.
It is part of the goobid family , fish that can live in fresh waters although they prefer brackish waters, so it is convenient to add a few tablespoons of sea salt to the aquarium. They are always tropical waters.
The most curious thing about this fish is its coloration, with yellow and black vertical bands that resemble a wasp , hence its popular name: Wasp fish or Wasp goby.
Morphology
The Wasp Fish is quite small, in the aquarium they will measure between 4 cm and 5 cm long.
They are slightly laterally compressed, somewhat rounded and give the feeling of being very compact.
Like all gobies, they have curious ventral fins that are welded and act as a suction cup, so we can see that from time to time it literally sticks to the side of the aquarium.
This feature allows it to hold on to any smooth stone or substrate, when moving between strong water currents.
They lack a swim bladder, which gives them the advantage of moving very quickly between different depths… we must not forget that we are dealing with a “predator”, which feeds on small fry and invertebrates.
The dorsal fin of the Wasp Goby is divided into two clearly differentiated parts.
As for its coloration, as I have commented before, it is yellow with four vertical black stripes, which begin at the head and end at the tail.
There is no evident sexual dimorphism , we will only have which is the male and which is the female, when the moment of reproduction arrives … which by the way, in the aquarium is not exactly simple.
Distribution and habitat
They are fish native to Southeast Asia: Java Island, Indonesia, it is also possible to find it in Borneo and Sumatra, although it is suspected that these specimens could belong to another similar species.
Its habitat corresponds to the mouths of rivers, where fresh water mixes with salty water: estuaries.
It is also possible to find them in mangroves and estuaries , always areas of slightly salty water and abundant vegetation.
Aquarium conditions
The size of the aquarium can range between 50 liters and 80 liters, where they will occupy the bottom of the aquarium.
As they are brackish water fish, they appreciate that the water is slightly salty, so it is recommended to add two tablespoons of sea salt for every 10 liters of water.
They require planted aquariums , with abundant vegetation and places that serve as hiding places.
The optimal water conditions are:
- Temperature from 25ºC to 30ºC
- pH between 7.5 and 8.5
- GH about 15º
Diet
Waspfish prefer to feed on live or frozen prey , such as tubifex, Artemia , worms, mosquito larvae, Daphnias, and pieces of mussels.
They do not tolerate dry food well. We can try, but from the accumulated experience it is not a good idea.
Although they can be fast when it comes to going down between different levels, the truth is that they are not very good when swimming and do not compete well for food.
It is convenient to entertain the rest of the fish in the aquarium with other types of food, to give the Waspfish the opportunity to feed quietly.
Behavior and compatibility
The Wasp Goby is a territorial fish, albeit quiet. It can coexist perfectly in a community aquarium.
Its habits are rather nocturnal, it will be at dusk when we enjoy something more of it, since it will be more active.
You can share space with the Rasbora Galaxy, Ramirezi , Gurami Perla …
Reproduction
Its reproduction in the aquarium is not easy, but it is not impossible either.
Laying occurs after a courtship period, and is usually between 200 and 300 eggs. It is the male who is responsible for protecting the eggs until they hatch , for which they choose cavities or holes.
The eggs usually hatch 5 to 6 days after laying. The fry begin to swim from the first moment, and since they are born without a yolk sac, they must be fed immediately, for which we will use Artemia nauplii and infusoria.
Wasp Fish Photos
