Crazy Fish — a Eleotridae from Indo-Pacific estuaries, peaceful but territorial toward its own kind. Reaches 11.2–16.5 cm; a bonded pair claims one cave; keep others elsewhere. 22–28 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
22–28 °C
pH
7–8
GH hardness
9–19 dGH
Adult length
11.2–16.5 cm
Minimum tank
327 L
Water layer
Middle of the water column
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Peaceful but territorial toward its own kind
Origin
Indo-Pacific estuaries
Species overview
Butis butis is a Eleotridae from Indo-Pacific estuaries. Every rock overhang is real estate; give each fish a cave and the tank stays peaceful. It swims in mid-water. Adults reach 11.2–16.5 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 22–28 °C at pH 7–8. Undemanding once its core needs are met.
Native biotope
Habitat
Warm freshwater streams and lakes
Flow
Still to gentle current
Dissolved O₂
Moderate oxygen levels
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Fine sand and gravel
Hardscape
Driftwood and smooth stones
Plants
Hardy common aquarium 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