Desert Gobies

[phreeflow]

Does anyone know the actual lifespan of a desert goby (chlamydogobius eremius)?

I’ve had a group for 6 months and some are getting quite large but others are still tiny under the same conditions.

I’m told they only live 1 year so they must be bred to keep the colony going. However, as slow as some of these grow, I can’t see that happening.

Some sites say 1 year lifespan while other say 5 years. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Friller2009]

I had a lone male live for about 3 years.

My colony goes generally well. I would say if you want to maintain them breeding them is a must.

I think I was reading in one of the ANGFA journals that hormones might be involved in growth, but that could've been another goby/gudgeon.

I keep them outside as well in Sydney. They can handle from around 4 C to like 38 or something crazy like that.
Salt is good with them as well. Basically can be saltier than seawater.

 

[phreeflow]

I had a lone male live for about 3 years.

My colony goes generally well. I would say if you want to maintain them breeding them is a must.

Thanks for the great info. Looks like I’ll have to split the group into different tanks and run some carbon to remove the growth inhibiting hormones.

Also, at what size do they start coloring up enough to sex them?

 

[Friller2009]

Thanks for the great info. Looks like I’ll have to split the group into different tanks and run some carbon to remove the growth inhibiting hormones.

Also, at what size do they start coloring up enough to sex them?

I just leave em till the males get the big boof head on em or start colouring up. Some do it earlier than others. Easier to tell by colour on a light sand. They just stay black/grey on the black bare bottom tanks

 

[phreeflow]

I just leave em till the males get the big boof head on em or start colouring up. Some do it earlier than others. Easier to tell by colour on a light sand. They just stay black/grey on the black bare bottom tanks

Guess I’ll have to wait…they still all look the same, even on light sand

 

[Friller2009]

Guess I’ll have to wait…they still all look the same, even on light sand

Got any pics? I can have a crack at sexing them for ya

 

[phreeflow]

Got any pics? I can have a crack at sexing them for ya

That would be great Here’s some pics. Never mind the crystals..they’re in my daughter’s tank.

 

[Friller2009]

I'm gonna say a male and two females

 

[phreeflow]

I'm gonna say a male and two females

I got 10 of these guys scooting around so they’re all different fish. None are looking yellow yet but I thought the males were possibly the ones with the dark dorsals and they are also the biggest. However, when I look at the smaller ones closely, they are also showing bits of black coming in as well. Do females also get black dorsals?

 

[phreeflow]

Can i see a pic of yours?