There is a group of fishes that are commonly referred to as “Sleeper Goby fish”, but they are not actually Goby fish. Instead of being a part of the family Gobiidae,
they belong to a closely related family named Eleotridae. Unlike the true Goby fish, the sleeper Goby fish have no fused pelvic fin. Apart from this distinction, they
are very similar to true Goby fish when it comes to size, body shape and habits.
Many different goby species are commonly kept by aquarists. The so called Bumblebee Goby fish found in the genus Brachygobius do not grow very large and thereby easy
to keep even in small aquariums. They will also add colour to the aquarium and do not require a lot of pampering to do well. Provide them with tropical temperatures
and an alkaline pH. Bumblebee Goby fish are usually kept in freshwater aquariums, but they can be kept in slightly brackish conditions as well. Ideally provide your
Bumblebee Goby fish with live or frozen meaty foods. Make sure that the Bumblebee Goby fish actually get some food, since faster species might gulp down everything
before the Bumblebee goby get a chance to eat anything. Bumblebee Goby fish are usually very peaceful and will do well in a community aquarium, as long as they are
kept with non-aggressive species.
The so called Mudskippers make up another group of Goby fish kept by aquarists. They are traditionally ascribed to the subfamily named Oxudercinae. In the wild, you
will find Mudskippers in tropical and subtropical areas affected by tidal waters, e.g. mangrove forests and mudflats. When the water is drawn out to sea, the
Mudskippers stay and breathe oxygen directly from their skin. Just like frogs, the Mudskipper Goby fish can absorb oxygen through the skin. Another adaptation to the
tidal landscape are strong pectoral fins that work as basic legs when the Mudskipper goby needs to traverse areas of semi-dry land. To prevent dehydration, the
Mudskipper can dig a burrow and hide inside it until the water returns.
Goldfish
Goldfish was one of the first fish species to be kept in ponds by humans. It hails from a wild carp, probably the Crucian Carp, but has been bred selectively for
centuries in China. Goldfish is still a very popular fish in aquariums as well as in ponds and can today be obtained in a wide range of different variations. If you
look further down this page you will find articles about both commonly kept Goldfish types and more unusual Goldfish variations.
All Goldfish variations belong to the same species, Carassius auratus auratus. According to Chinese tradition the different Goldfish variations are divided into four
basic groups.
Ce goldfish or Grass goldfish are goldfish without any “fancy“ features. The Common goldfish is very similar to the carp from which it has been bred; the main
distinguishing feature is the colour modification. Unlike the wild carp, the Common goldfish can be obtained in a wide range of colour variations, including white,
black, lemon yellow, orange and of course the golden colour.
Wen goldfish are goldfish equipped with a dorsal fin and a fancy tail. An example of a Wen goldfish is the Fantail goldfish that has a dual-lobed tail that can
reach a size of three inches.
Dragon Eye goldfish have protruding eyes. As the names suggest, the Bubble Eye goldfish and the Telescope Eye goldfish both belong to this group.
Egg goldfish is a goldfish that has no dorsal fin. One example of Egg goldfish is the Japanese Ranchu goldfish. If a Bubble Eye goldfish is without dorsal fin, it
is considered a part of this group instead of the Dragon Eye goldfish group.
Compared to many other fish species that have been bred and developed in captivity, the Goldfish has a remarkably long history. Its ancestor is believed to have been
the Crucian Carp, a comparatively small carp with a dark grey to olive-brown colouration. The Crucian Carp is native to East Asia, and it was the Chinese that began to
keep it in fish ponds. The Tang Dynasty is famous for its beautiful fish ponds, and it was during this era that the golden colour mutation was discovered and used for
selective breeding. In 1162 A.D. the Chinese Emperor issued a ban that restricted anyone but the royal family from keeping yellow carps. The orange variations were
however still allowed. According to ancient Chinese literature, the other colour variations that occurred were first recorded in 1276 A.D. The fancy tailed goldfish is
believed to have originated during the Ming Dynasty. It wasn’t until 1502 A.D. that the goldfish was introduced to Japan, where it became highly popular and new
Japanese versions of the goldfish was eventually created. Tosakin and Ryukin are two examples of Japanese goldfish. The goldfish reached Europe in 1611 A.D. when it
was brought to Portugal.
Goldfish is still a popular pond fish, but some of the more vulnerable variations need to be kept in aquariums. If you want a robust pond fish, the Shubunkin is one
possibility. The Shubunkin goldfish was developed by Japanese goldfish breeders that wanted to create a brightly coloured goldfish that still had the physical strength
and survival skills of the common goldfish. Shubunkin goldfish is the result of selective crossings between Comet goldfish and Calico Fantail goldfish.
Gourami
In this section of the articles library you will find information about the different Gourami species, except for those that belong to the genus Betta, e.g. the
Siamese Fighting fish. Since Betta fish are so popular we have given them their own category here at AC Tropical fish.
All the Gourami species belong to the family Osphronemidae and are so called Labyrinth fishes; they have a labyrinth shaped organ that allow them absorb oxygen
directly from the air. The labyrinth organ is connected to each gill chamber and the Osphronemidae fish will breathe air by swimming up to the surface and “gulp”.
Labyrinth organs are an adaptation to a life in poorly aerated waters. Gourami fish are native to Asia and inhabit a region that stretches from India and Pakistan,
across the Malay Archipelago and all the way to Korea. Gourami fish are only found in tropical freshwater.
Gouramis are commonly found in community aquariums since they are peaceful creatures that can be kept with each other or together with other docile species. It is
advisable to choose tank mates that have roughly the same size. You can keep plenty of Gouramis of the same species, or from different species, in the same aquarium as
long as there is room for them to form their own territories. Use plants and/or other aquarium decoration to form natural borders in the aquarium.
One of the Gourami species – Osphronemus goramy – is commonly known as the True Gourami. It can be kept in aquariums, but need a large aquarium since it can reach a
maximum size of 60 centimeters (2 feet). If you provide your True Gourami with enough space, good water quality, nutritious food and other suitable living conditions
it can survive for 25 years or more. The True Gourami originates from Indonesia, but wild True Gouramican today be found in many other parts of South East Asia,
including China, since it as been deliberately introduced.
Since the True Gourami grows so big, it is another Gourami that has become the most commonly kept Gourami among hobby aquarists. The Kissing Gourami – Helostoma
temminkii – is found in a lot of beginner aquariums. You should however know that even the Kissing Gourami can grow quite big; up to 25 centimeters (10 inches). If you
want to keep a smaller Gourami, you can instead choose the Moonlight Gourami – Trichogaster microlepis. This fish will stop growing when it has reached a size of 15
centimeters (6 inches). The Talking Gourami – Trichopsis vittata – is even smaller; 5 centimeters (2 inches).
Most Gourami species will appreciate a water quality that is neutral or somewhat acidic. Soft water is also recommended and the temperature should be kept in the 24 –
26 degrees C (74 – 79 degrees F) range. Feed your Gouramis a varied diet. Dry prepared foods are a good base if you choose a high quality food that is suitable for
Gouramis. This base should be supplemented with live foods such as worms or brine shrimp. Gouramis will also need vegetable or plant material and feeding your Gourami
peas or lettuce is therefore a good idea.
Invertebrates
In this section of the articles library you will find information about of a lot of different invertebrates that are kept by aquarists. (What is an invertebrate?)If
you are looking for information about corals you will find that in the Coral category. You can also find helpful information in the category named Marine Aquariums.
Jelly fish is another invertebrate that has gotten its own category here at AC Tropical fish.
The reasons why aquarists keep invertebrates vary. Some invertebrates are only kept in order to provide other aquatic animals with food. A lot of fish species will for
instance appreciate live invertebrates. Brine shrimp is one of the most commonly raised invertebrates, since they are very easy to cultivate. The common Brine shrimp
is also known as Artemia and belong to the phylum Arthropoda. Brine shrimp hatch from dormant cysts. Dormant cysts are metabolically inactive and can therefore be
stored for years as long as you keep them in a dry and sealed environment. When you want to cultivate a new batch of Brine shrimp, you simply place the cysts in
saltwater where they will develop into adult Brine shrimp. Another example of invertebrates commonly cultivated as fish food is Daphnia. Daphnia is a group of animals
commonly known as “water fleas” due to their jerky movements. Daphnia is also called Daphnids and the two most frequently raised Daphnia species are D. pulex and D.
magna.
they belong to a closely related family named Eleotridae. Unlike the true Goby fish, the sleeper Goby fish have no fused pelvic fin. Apart from this distinction, they
are very similar to true Goby fish when it comes to size, body shape and habits.
Many different goby species are commonly kept by aquarists. The so called Bumblebee Goby fish found in the genus Brachygobius do not grow very large and thereby easy
to keep even in small aquariums. They will also add colour to the aquarium and do not require a lot of pampering to do well. Provide them with tropical temperatures
and an alkaline pH. Bumblebee Goby fish are usually kept in freshwater aquariums, but they can be kept in slightly brackish conditions as well. Ideally provide your
Bumblebee Goby fish with live or frozen meaty foods. Make sure that the Bumblebee Goby fish actually get some food, since faster species might gulp down everything
before the Bumblebee goby get a chance to eat anything. Bumblebee Goby fish are usually very peaceful and will do well in a community aquarium, as long as they are
kept with non-aggressive species.
The so called Mudskippers make up another group of Goby fish kept by aquarists. They are traditionally ascribed to the subfamily named Oxudercinae. In the wild, you
will find Mudskippers in tropical and subtropical areas affected by tidal waters, e.g. mangrove forests and mudflats. When the water is drawn out to sea, the
Mudskippers stay and breathe oxygen directly from their skin. Just like frogs, the Mudskipper Goby fish can absorb oxygen through the skin. Another adaptation to the
tidal landscape are strong pectoral fins that work as basic legs when the Mudskipper goby needs to traverse areas of semi-dry land. To prevent dehydration, the
Mudskipper can dig a burrow and hide inside it until the water returns.
Goldfish
Goldfish was one of the first fish species to be kept in ponds by humans. It hails from a wild carp, probably the Crucian Carp, but has been bred selectively for
centuries in China. Goldfish is still a very popular fish in aquariums as well as in ponds and can today be obtained in a wide range of different variations. If you
look further down this page you will find articles about both commonly kept Goldfish types and more unusual Goldfish variations.
All Goldfish variations belong to the same species, Carassius auratus auratus. According to Chinese tradition the different Goldfish variations are divided into four
basic groups.
Ce goldfish or Grass goldfish are goldfish without any “fancy“ features. The Common goldfish is very similar to the carp from which it has been bred; the main
distinguishing feature is the colour modification. Unlike the wild carp, the Common goldfish can be obtained in a wide range of colour variations, including white,
black, lemon yellow, orange and of course the golden colour.
Wen goldfish are goldfish equipped with a dorsal fin and a fancy tail. An example of a Wen goldfish is the Fantail goldfish that has a dual-lobed tail that can
reach a size of three inches.
Dragon Eye goldfish have protruding eyes. As the names suggest, the Bubble Eye goldfish and the Telescope Eye goldfish both belong to this group.
Egg goldfish is a goldfish that has no dorsal fin. One example of Egg goldfish is the Japanese Ranchu goldfish. If a Bubble Eye goldfish is without dorsal fin, it
is considered a part of this group instead of the Dragon Eye goldfish group.
Compared to many other fish species that have been bred and developed in captivity, the Goldfish has a remarkably long history. Its ancestor is believed to have been
the Crucian Carp, a comparatively small carp with a dark grey to olive-brown colouration. The Crucian Carp is native to East Asia, and it was the Chinese that began to
keep it in fish ponds. The Tang Dynasty is famous for its beautiful fish ponds, and it was during this era that the golden colour mutation was discovered and used for
selective breeding. In 1162 A.D. the Chinese Emperor issued a ban that restricted anyone but the royal family from keeping yellow carps. The orange variations were
however still allowed. According to ancient Chinese literature, the other colour variations that occurred were first recorded in 1276 A.D. The fancy tailed goldfish is
believed to have originated during the Ming Dynasty. It wasn’t until 1502 A.D. that the goldfish was introduced to Japan, where it became highly popular and new
Japanese versions of the goldfish was eventually created. Tosakin and Ryukin are two examples of Japanese goldfish. The goldfish reached Europe in 1611 A.D. when it
was brought to Portugal.
Goldfish is still a popular pond fish, but some of the more vulnerable variations need to be kept in aquariums. If you want a robust pond fish, the Shubunkin is one
possibility. The Shubunkin goldfish was developed by Japanese goldfish breeders that wanted to create a brightly coloured goldfish that still had the physical strength
and survival skills of the common goldfish. Shubunkin goldfish is the result of selective crossings between Comet goldfish and Calico Fantail goldfish.
Gourami
In this section of the articles library you will find information about the different Gourami species, except for those that belong to the genus Betta, e.g. the
Siamese Fighting fish. Since Betta fish are so popular we have given them their own category here at AC Tropical fish.
All the Gourami species belong to the family Osphronemidae and are so called Labyrinth fishes; they have a labyrinth shaped organ that allow them absorb oxygen
directly from the air. The labyrinth organ is connected to each gill chamber and the Osphronemidae fish will breathe air by swimming up to the surface and “gulp”.
Labyrinth organs are an adaptation to a life in poorly aerated waters. Gourami fish are native to Asia and inhabit a region that stretches from India and Pakistan,
across the Malay Archipelago and all the way to Korea. Gourami fish are only found in tropical freshwater.
Gouramis are commonly found in community aquariums since they are peaceful creatures that can be kept with each other or together with other docile species. It is
advisable to choose tank mates that have roughly the same size. You can keep plenty of Gouramis of the same species, or from different species, in the same aquarium as
long as there is room for them to form their own territories. Use plants and/or other aquarium decoration to form natural borders in the aquarium.
One of the Gourami species – Osphronemus goramy – is commonly known as the True Gourami. It can be kept in aquariums, but need a large aquarium since it can reach a
maximum size of 60 centimeters (2 feet). If you provide your True Gourami with enough space, good water quality, nutritious food and other suitable living conditions
it can survive for 25 years or more. The True Gourami originates from Indonesia, but wild True Gouramican today be found in many other parts of South East Asia,
including China, since it as been deliberately introduced.
Since the True Gourami grows so big, it is another Gourami that has become the most commonly kept Gourami among hobby aquarists. The Kissing Gourami – Helostoma
temminkii – is found in a lot of beginner aquariums. You should however know that even the Kissing Gourami can grow quite big; up to 25 centimeters (10 inches). If you
want to keep a smaller Gourami, you can instead choose the Moonlight Gourami – Trichogaster microlepis. This fish will stop growing when it has reached a size of 15
centimeters (6 inches). The Talking Gourami – Trichopsis vittata – is even smaller; 5 centimeters (2 inches).
Most Gourami species will appreciate a water quality that is neutral or somewhat acidic. Soft water is also recommended and the temperature should be kept in the 24 –
26 degrees C (74 – 79 degrees F) range. Feed your Gouramis a varied diet. Dry prepared foods are a good base if you choose a high quality food that is suitable for
Gouramis. This base should be supplemented with live foods such as worms or brine shrimp. Gouramis will also need vegetable or plant material and feeding your Gourami
peas or lettuce is therefore a good idea.
Invertebrates
In this section of the articles library you will find information about of a lot of different invertebrates that are kept by aquarists. (What is an invertebrate?)If
you are looking for information about corals you will find that in the Coral category. You can also find helpful information in the category named Marine Aquariums.
Jelly fish is another invertebrate that has gotten its own category here at AC Tropical fish.
The reasons why aquarists keep invertebrates vary. Some invertebrates are only kept in order to provide other aquatic animals with food. A lot of fish species will for
instance appreciate live invertebrates. Brine shrimp is one of the most commonly raised invertebrates, since they are very easy to cultivate. The common Brine shrimp
is also known as Artemia and belong to the phylum Arthropoda. Brine shrimp hatch from dormant cysts. Dormant cysts are metabolically inactive and can therefore be
stored for years as long as you keep them in a dry and sealed environment. When you want to cultivate a new batch of Brine shrimp, you simply place the cysts in
saltwater where they will develop into adult Brine shrimp. Another example of invertebrates commonly cultivated as fish food is Daphnia. Daphnia is a group of animals
commonly known as “water fleas” due to their jerky movements. Daphnia is also called Daphnids and the two most frequently raised Daphnia species are D. pulex and D.
magna.
