Rarely seen in the hobby, the Desert Goby is every bit of the ideal aquarium fish. They are small, colourful, and active, with great, engaging personalities. These fish can become "pet fish," with many aquarists likening them to bulldogs -- while colourful, they're "kind of ugly," but in an endearing way, particularly when they beg for food at the bottom of the aquarium.

An Australian fish, the Desert Goby can be found in somewhat alkaline lakes in the outback. It will benefit from a higher pH, and the addition of some aquarium salt (though it is not brackish). Males are far more colourful than females, which are generally quite drab. They are easy to breed, if offered small caves. We use chunks of 3/4" PVC (about 3-4" in length).