Blue Spotted Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)
Family: Gobiidae
Blue Spotted Mudskipper — a Gobiidae from muddy coasts of SE China, peaceful but territorial toward its own kind. Reaches 8.2–12.1 cm; a bonded pair claims one cave; keep others elsewhere. 18–26 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
18–26 °C
pH
6.5–7.5
GH hardness
5–15 dGH
Adult length
8.2–12.1 cm
Minimum tank
176 L
Water layer
Bottom-dwelling
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Peaceful but territorial toward its own kind
Origin
muddy coasts of SE China
Species overview
Boleophthalmus pectinirostris is a Gobiidae from muddy coasts of SE China. Every rock overhang is real estate; give each fish a cave and the tank stays peaceful. It lives on the bottom. Adults reach 8.2–12.1 cm. A bonded pair claims one cave; keep others elsewhere. Provide fine sand or smooth gravel, a cave per fish, and gentle to moderate flow. Maintain 18–26 °C at pH 6.5–7.5. A rewarding species for the aquarist who reads before buying.
Native biotope
Habitat
Shallow streams and estuaries over sand
Flow
Still to gentle current
Dissolved O₂
Moderate
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Fine sand
Hardscape
Flat stones and shells
Plants
Sparse hardy plants
Temperament, diet & tankmates
Schooling
A bonded pair claims one cave; keep others elsewhere
Diet
Small carnivore — live, frozen and fine sinking foods
Recommended tankmates
Shrimps in a species setup — A classic pairing for the dedicated
Avoid keeping with
Other gobies of the same species without extra caves — Territorial wars over refuges