Purple Sleeper Goby (Mogurnda mogurnda)

Purple Sleeper Goby Mogurnda mogurnda
Name	Purple Sleeper Goby
Name Lat.	Mogurnda mogurnda
Family	Bully Sleepers
Family lat.	Eleotridae
Order	Gobies
Order lat.	Gobiiformes
Origin	Australia
Habitat	Forest streams, ponds
Diet	Carnivore
pH	6.0-8.0
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Harem, group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Substrate spawner
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	3-5 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	10 cm
Temperature	24-26 °C
Hardness	10-20 °dH
Aquarium	150 l
US Units
Size	3.9"
Temperature	75-79 °F
Hardness	178-356 ppm
Aquarium	40 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the spotted goby is northern Australia and southern New Guinea. They live in very different habitats, such as slow-flowing forest streams, ponds and swamps with dense underwater vegetation, roots and stones....

Maintenance

The aquarium should have dense planting, with numerous hiding places (roots, stones, caves) and sufficient swimming space. A fine-grained substrate covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond tree), shaded light (floating plants) and medium-hard to hard water without current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

The food supply consists of live or frozen cyclops, daphnia, bosmids, artemia, mosquito larvae, etc. or a commercially available, frozen special food mix. Dry food (granules, flakes) is also usually well accepted, but should not be the main component of the diet.

A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms. Only as much should be fed as is eaten immediately (in a maximum of 10 minutes).

Behaviour and compatibility

They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females or in a group of 6-8 animals. Males are somewhat territorial within the species. A socialization with other fish, like robust tetras, barbs or rainbowfish is well possible. Only with long-finned fish caution is advised, as they tend to fin plucking.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The males are slightly smaller than the females. With some experience, adolescent animals can be distinguished by their genital papilla, which is pointed in the male.

Reproduction and breeding

They are substrate spawners. The female lays her eggs, 20-200 pieces on a plant, root or stone, often also on the aquarium glass. After egg laying, the male drives the female away and takes over brood care. It fans and protects the spawn. The larvae hatch after 5-10 days and as soon as the fry swim free the brood care ends.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.

Important

These gobies do not require water treated with salt.

They show their most beautiful coloration by feeding with live food.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 2, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF