Brown Spinecheek Gudgeon — a Eleotridae from southern Chinese coasts and estuaries, peaceful but territorial toward its own kind. Reaches 14.2–20.9 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
14.2–20.9 cm
Minimum tank
500 L
Water layer
Middle of the water column
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Peaceful but territorial toward its own kind
Origin
southern Chinese coasts and estuaries
Species overview
Eleotris fusca, a member of the family Eleotridae, is native to southern Chinese coasts and estuaries. Every rock overhang is real estate; give each fish a cave and the tank stays peaceful. It swims in mid-water. Adults reach 14.2–20.9 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
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