Chameleon goby — a Gobiidae from Japan, calm bottom resident with clear territory boundaries. Reaches 8.2–12.1 cm; singly or in pairs; every fish needs its own refuge. 5.6–16.4 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
5.6–16.4 °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
Calm bottom resident with clear territory boundaries
Origin
Japan
Species overview
Tridentiger trigonocephalus, a member of the family Gobiidae, is native to Japan. 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. Singly or in pairs; every fish needs its own refuge. Provide fine sand or smooth gravel, a cave per fish, and gentle to moderate flow. Maintain 5.6–16.4 °C at pH 6.5–7.5. Water quality and diet matter more than décor.
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
Singly or in pairs; every fish needs its own refuge
Diet
Meaty foods; train onto frozen then pellets
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