Again we could import a new species of dwarf bumble-bee goby. This tiny fish becomes only 2 cm long. It cannot be applied to any described species so far. According to our supplier the fish have been collected in Indonesia.

 

In Brachygobius, one very important feature for determination is the question whether the predorsal region is scaled or naked. This can be easily recognized even on a good photo. Our new fish have a naked predorsal region. In combination with coloration and origin this makes it very likely that our fish represents a species unknown to science so far.

 

The coloration varies extremely in this species and it seems that there are not even two specimens that have the very same pattern. We have decided to name them provisionally "Ocelot". In any case the new bumble-bee goby is an attractive enrichment of the species available for small aquaria.

Bumblebee gobies are tricky to feed. Being that these gobies are an opportunistic style feeder, snapping at anything that might swim or float by, flake and dry foods are out of the question. Live food is really the best option for bumblebee gobies. They will readily take tubifex and blood worms that are still living, and will eat frozen ones if there is a slight current to keep the food moving around.

 

For our customers: the fish have code 407232 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer