Tank goby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tank goby |
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The Glossogobius giuris, also known as the tank goby, is a type of goby fish. You can find this fish in many different places around the world. It lives in fresh, salty (marine), and mixed (brackish) waters. Its home ranges from the Red Sea and East Africa all the way to China, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean islands. Sometimes, you can even find this fish in pet stores that sell aquarium animals. People also call it the bar-eyed goby, flat-headed goby, or Gangetic tank goby.
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What Does the Tank Goby Look Like?
The tank goby has a special shape. Its head is a bit flat, and its lower jaw sticks out. The rest of its body gets flatter towards its tail fin. These fish are usually brown or light brown. They have darker brown spots and marks along their sides. Tank gobies can grow quite large for a goby, reaching up to 40 to 50 centimeters (about 16 to 20 inches) long.
Where Does the Tank Goby Live?
This fish likes warm waters, often found in places where rivers meet the sea. These areas are called estuaries. However, the tank goby is very adaptable! It can also live in the ocean or far inland in streams. Some have been found as far as 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) from the coast in Malawi. This goby lives near the bottom of the water and can move between fresh and salt water. It prefers clear or slightly cloudy streams with rocks, gravel, or sand on the bottom.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Tank gobies lay their eggs among plants that are under the water. Both the male and female fish guard the eggs to keep them safe. They can lay their eggs in freshwater. The eggs then float with the current down to the sea. However, these amazing fish can also complete their entire life cycle only in freshwater. In South Africa, they breed during the summer months. In northern Australia, they lay eggs during the dry season.
What Does the Tank Goby Eat?
The tank goby is a carnivore, which means it eats other animals. It will eat any small fish or tiny water creatures (invertebrates) it finds. Sometimes, they even eat other tank gobies! Scientists have studied what they eat by looking at their stomachs. They found that the tank goby mostly eats other fish. They also eat insects, small crustaceans (like tiny shrimp), and sometimes even fish eggs or zooplankton. This shows they are true hunters of the water.
How Do People Use Tank Gobies?
Unlike many other gobies, the tank goby is sometimes caught and sold by people. This is probably because it can grow to a good size. You can find them sold fresh or frozen in markets. As mentioned before, they are also sometimes kept as pets in home aquariums.
