Brachygobius

Taxobox
name = "Brachygobius"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Gobiidae
subfamilia = Gobionellinae
genus = "Brachygobius"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1874
subdivision_ranks = Species [ITIS|ID=172050|taxon="Brachygobius"|year=2007|date=05-21]
subdivision = "B. aggregatus"
"B. doriae"
"B. kabiliensis"
"B. mekongensis"
"B. nunus"
"B. sabanus"
"B. xanthomelas"
"B. xanthozonus"
synonyms = "Hypogymnogobius" Bleeker, 1874

"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.cite web|url=http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/bracgobioids.htm|title=Fresh to Brackish Water Gobioids|last=Fenner|first=Robert|accessdate=2007-05-21]

Morphology

Bumblebee gobies range in size from 1.5 cm to 4 cm.Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X] They are generally coloured black with pale yellow to orange bands.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] Males are generally slimmer than females and often have more vivid colours, typically orange rather than yellow.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] Females may also have smaller and rounder heads.Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X] When spawning, the colours of the males become deeper, the orange bands becoming red in the case of "Brachygobius doriae".Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X]

Taxonomy

At least 10 species have been recognised within the genus.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] They are 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").Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X]

Ecology

Bumblebee gobies are found across Southern and Southeast Asia primarily in freshwater habitats but also in slightly brackish waters.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X]

Reproduction

These gobies are oviparous. Eggs are deposited in a cave where they are guarded by the male.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] Clutch size is around 150-200 eggs.Riehl R. & Baensch H: Aquarium Atlas (vol. 1), pp 836-837, Voyageur Press, 1996, ISBN 3-88244-050-3] The eggs hatch after around seven days and the fry become free swimming another five to seven days later.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3]

In the aquarium

Bumblebee gobies are popular aquarium fish.Riehl R. & Baensch H: Aquarium Atlas (vol. 1), pp 836-837, Voyageur Press, 1996, ISBN 3-88244-050-3] A tank around 40 litres in size will house a dozen specimens comfortably. Under good conditions they can live in an aquarium for around 5 years.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] The most commonly traded species in the hobby belong to the "Brachygobius doriae"-species group but the smaller "Brachygobius nunus" is also traded occasionally.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3] Schäfer F: Brackish Water Fishes, pp 49-51, Aqualog 2005, ISBN 3-936027-82-X] Although many aquarium books use the name "Brachygobius xanthozona", this species is very rare in the wild and is not commercially traded.Naomi Delventhal in Monks, Neale (2006): "Brackish Water Fishes", pp 131-132, TFH Publishing. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3]

References