Marbled Goby ( Oxyeleotris Marmoratus )
Marbled Goby ( Oxyeleotris Marmoratus ) is a unique fish commonly found in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines. The local people call this fish by various names. In Laos, they are known as “Pa-Bu”. In Singapore, they are known as “Soon-Hock”. These fish have cultural significance because they are considered a treasure in many Southeast Asian countries.
Their bodies are covered with tiny scales and come in a combination of black, brown and red.
Generally, they are docile, hardy and easy to feed. Their average lifespan is 5-8 years and they grow very slowly. However, they grow large, averaging 12 inches (30 cm) in size. There are reports that these fish can grow up to 26 inches (65 cm). In fact, they are considered to be one of the largest goby species in the world. Needless to say, a full-grown specimen requires a very large tank.
Indoor Marbled Goby Fish Farming
Now I’m here to learn some of the basic elements of our indoor recirculating aquaculture Marble Goby.
Young fish can be grown in smaller tanks; however, as they mature, they will require more space due to the size that these specimens can grow to. As they are also quite sedentary fish found in still and slow-moving bodies of water, it is important that your Marble Goby is in an environment with little to no water movement.
The optimal water temperature for a Marble Goby is between 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C). This is because they are typically found in Southeast Asian countries with tropical environments. In these areas, they live in rivers, canals, reservoirs, and swamps, which are freshwater or have a brackish environment.
The recommended pH level for Marble Goby is 6.5 to 7.5. They will need to be kept in an environment with an ammonia level of 0 ppm, a nitrite level of 0 ppm, and a nitrate level of < 30 ppm. If your fish live in a brackish aquarium, the water must be at a hardness level of 10-15 DH.
It is said that a Marble Goby will eat pretty much anything that it is given. They are typically bottom feeders, lying unmoving in rocks or plants to ambush food that comes close. Young Marble Goby (also known as fry) can be fed live or frozen bloodworms, small earthworms, insects, and small shrimp.
Fully grown marble goby can eat live or frozen bloodworms and earthworms, whole prawns, tilapia, live or frozen crabs, and small fish. Some owners have reported they have trained their fish to eat dry pellets. However, it is quite common for this to be unsuccessful due to their carnivorous diet.
Marble Gobies are predominantly a nocturnal species that are most active at night and in the early hours of the morning. Because of their nocturnal behaviors, they should be fed once a day, in the evenings. Marble Gobies are also very greedy, so care needs to be taken to ensure they are not overfed, which can lead to fin rot, and fatty liver and alter the pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels of the water.
