Black goby (Gobius niger)

Scientific name: Gobius niger Linnaeus, 1758

The Black goby (Gobius niger) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 8–24°C (46–75°F).

Black goby care at a glance

Temperature: 8–24°C (46–75°F)

Biology

Found in estuaries, lagoons and inshore waters over sand or mud, in seagrass or on algae. Feed on crustaceans (larger amphipods, isopods, shrimps, mysids, small crabs), bivalves, gastropods, polychaetes, chironomid larvae, sometimes small fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Gobius niger
Family: Gobiidae (Gobies)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Depth range: 1–75 m (3–246 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 75 m, usually 1 - 50 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: throughout North Africa from Cape Blanc, Mauritania north and eastwards to the Suez Canal; also along the eastern Atlantic coast northwards to Trondheim (Norway) and Baltic Sea. Also known from the Black Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19-0.3; tm=0.8-2; tmax=4)