Fish Profile - Candystripe Goby

[ecotank]

Candystripe Goby - Awaous flavus

Origin: Northern South America
Temperature: 75-82F
pH: 6.0-8.0
Maximum Size: 3.5 inches
Temperament: Semi-aggressive bottom feeder.

Also known as A. strigatus or A. badius and commonly called the striated river goby, candy stripe goby or the Brazillian pinstripe goby.

Like many gobies, the Awaous flavus has an amphidromous lifecycle. There are two migrations. The extremely tiny larvae hatch in freshwater and drift passively with the river currents to the ocean, where they develop for some time, typically a few weeks or months, before migrating back to the freshwater rivers.

In freshwater the juveniles continue to feed and grow, spawn, and live the rest of their lives, never returning to the saltwater. The difficulty in breeding these fish is in recreating the exact conditions for the larvae, including feeding habits. The courting display put forth by the males is really fun to watch though, the males fins and body will become darker (some fins go solid black) and his dorsal fin will include brilliant orange markings. The male will open his large mouth, arch his body and “hop” around in an attempt to impress the female.

A great fish for goby lovers who don’t want to maintain a brackish or saltwater tank.