Brachygobius
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Brachygobius xanthozona, commonly known as the Bumblebee Goby, is a species of fish in the family Gobidae. It is named after the bumblebee because of its prominent gold and black stripes.
They inhabit brackish waters in estuaries of areas such as Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam. They are able to tolerate fresh water in aquariums.
The Goby's life cycle begins, usually, in fresh waters. When the appearance of female fish begins to be well-rounded and plump, and the black stripes of the male fish start to vanish, Bumble Bee Gobies are ready to mate and produce eggs. These eggs are protected by the male Goby, where they are usually located under rocks or caves. Once the eggs hatch, liquid foods are required for the offspring. Finding shelter in caves, large roots of mangrove trees and other hidden areas also serve as a way of protection in its early stages of life. Often, the parents try to prey on their young. If the young escape, they hide away for four to five weeks while they mature.
In home aquariums, it is to be maintained in brackish water about 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the aquarium full with rocks and crevices for it to hide. Gobies can only tolerate living with certain types of fish. One can combine interesting species like the Celebes Halfbeaks and the Black Mollies for the companions of gobies, though it prefers to swim in the company of its own species.
There are nine different gobies classified under the name "Bumble Bee Goby", making it problematic for owners to identify which species they have. One very common mistake even the pet stores make is between the Bumble Bee Goby and its closely related cousin, the Golden-Banded Goby. The major difference between the two, other than appearance, is that the Golden-Banded Goby cannot tolerate freshwater as well as Bumble Bee Gobies; it is best suited to brackish water. One way to check that it is, indeed, a Bumble Bee Goby is o examine the stripes. B. xanthozona has distinct black stripes, while the Golden-Banded Goby’s stripes are not as distinct, and it can even have black spots covering its body in place of stripes.
