15 Best Bumblebee Goby Tank Mates

Creating a vibrant community tank with a mix of harmonious fish is a joy, but finding compatible species can be tricky. We’ve curated the best Bumblebee Goby tank mates to help you craft a happy, bustling aquarium.

These charming little swimmers have specific needs, making it tough for many other fish to thrive with them. But don’t worry; their pickiness doesn’t mean they need to live alone.

Explore our guide to discover friendly fish and other aquarium companions that will thrive alongside your Bumblebee Gobies. Dive in and start building your perfect tank!

When it comes to deciding who can live with your Bumblebee Gobies, there are a number of different things that you need to take into consideration.

Personality

Each fish species has an expected temperament that tells you how they are likely to behave – particularly when they are around others. Lots of species do not play nice, and many have some specific kinds of fish that they just don’t get along with.

Bumblebee Gobies are generally quite happy, but they can get a little aggressive if they are in the wrong environment. They are also likely to be a little scrappy when they have other fish in their space that they can’t get away from.

This means that you want to look for fish that are generally friendly and non-aggressive but also won’t be too curious and invasive.

Size

How big or small your fish are is always going to be important, particularly when you are trying to avoid fights – or worse. Large carnivorous fish can view Bumblebee Gobies as prey and cause them to become stressed or agitated, and very tiny fish might find themselves becoming a meal instead.

As with most species, you generally want to house fish that are around the same size – although some fish can get along despite a size difference.

Resources and Competition

Whatever animals might be living in the same space, they all need to get enough resources and room to move around. You need to make sure that your Bumblebee Gobies will have full access to food, but also places where they can hide and feel safe.

To avoid competition, it’s best to select fish that don’t spend as much time in the same part of the tank. Bumblebee Gobies are bottom dwellers, so mid or upper-level fish are ideal – or fish that will naturally stay away from each other. Otherwise, you will need to provide shelters like caves or hollow logs for them to hide out in.

Parameters and Tank Setup

Perhaps the most important aspect of putting together a community tank is ensuring all of the fish inside are content with the same water parameters and tank setup.

Bumblebee Gobies are happiest in brackish water, which is a relatively rare kind of tank setup. Not a lot of common aquarium species like brackish water, so it can be hard to find friends that will be comfortable with this level of salt.

You also need to be very careful to ensure that all the fish in the tank can thrive with the same pH, hardness, and temperature. Bumblebee Gobies should be kept in water with:

• Temperature: 73° to 79° F (23° to 26° C)
• pH: 6.5 to 7.5
• Hardness: 140 to 350 ppm

15 Best Bumblebee Goby Tank Mates

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1. Bumblebee Goby

• Scientific Name: Brachygobius xanthozonus
• Compatibility: Glass Fish, Figure 8 Puffer Fish, Indian Mudskipper
• Size Fully Grown: 1.5 to 1.7 inches
• Care Difficulty: Intermediate
• Temperature: 73° to 79° F
• Required Tank Size: 10-gallon

Unlike some species, Bumblebee Gobies can actually be housed together in a group and are often happier with 6-8 individuals in one tank. In many ways, there is no better tank mate than another Bumblebee.

Pros

• Less aggressive in small groups
• Happier together

Cons

• Need a larger tank for more fish

2. Glass Fish

• Scientific Name: Parambassis ranga
• Compatibility: Guppies, Tetras, Corys
• Size Fully Grown: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
• Care Difficulty: Moderate
• Temperature: 68° to 86° F
• Required Tank Size: 30-gallon

Glass Fish are beautiful and non-aggressive, and they are one of the most well-known species that are likely to have no problems getting along with Bumblebee Gobies in any way.

Pros

• Very compatible
• Interesting appearance

Cons

• Don’t like dried food

3. Guppies

• Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
• Compatibility: Tetras, Bettas, Corys
• Size Fully Grown: 0.6 to 2.4 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 72° to 82° F
• Required Tank Size: 10-gallon

Guppies are an aquarium favorite for a reason. They are very easy to care for, a good option for beginners, and, though they are often kept in freshwater tanks, their natural habitat is brackish. Some aggressive and lonely Bumblebee Gobies might get into the occasional scrap with them, but in a happy environment they should get along well.

Pros

• Very compatible with many species
• Hardy and easy to care for

Cons

• Can be vulnerable to aggressive Bumblebee Gobies

4. Endler’s Livebearer

• Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei
• Compatibility: Platies, Mollies, Swordtails
• Size Fully Grown: 1.5 to 1.8 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 72° to 82° F
• Required Tank Size: 40-gallon

The Endler’s Livebearer is very similar to a Guppy, and they are incredibly colorful and vibrant additions to a tank. They are small and almost never hostile, but they can find themselves being bullied by larger fish.

Pros

• Perfect size for Bumblebee Gobies
• Brightly colored

Cons

• Vulnerable to larger fish

5. Figure 8 Puffers

• Scientific Name: Tetraodon biocellatus
• Compatibility: Bumblebee Gobies, Knight Gobies, Mollies
• Size Fully Grown: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
• Care Difficulty: Intermediate
• Temperature: 72° to 79° F
• Required Tank Size: 15-gallon

Figure 8 Puffers are expressive and adorable – and they can be fascinating to care for. They’re not the easiest fish in the world to keep happy and they can be aggressive to some species, but they are known to get along surprisingly well with Bumblebee Gobies.

Pros

• Interesting and exciting
• Cute appearance

Cons

• Need heavy filtration as they are messy
• Can be aggressive towards other fish

6. Cherry Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
• Compatibility: Tetras, Bettas, Snails
• Size Fully Grown: 1 to 1.3 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 57° to 86° F

• Required Tank Size: 2-gallo

If you’re looking to put together a brackish community tank, then shrimp are always going to be a perfect addition. Cherry Shrimp, in particular, are large and easygoing enough to live happily with Bumblebee Gobies.

Pros

• Very adaptable and easy to care for
• Perfect size

Cons

• Happier in larger groups where possible

7. Ninja Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Caridina serratirostris
• Compatibility: Cherry Shrimp, Snails, Corys
• Size Fully Grown: 0.6 to 1 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 75° to 80° F
• Required Tank Size: 5-gallon

Perhaps more interesting to look at than Cherry Shrimp, these guys have wonderful patterns and colors that change to camouflage them against their environment.

Pros

• Low maintenance
• Change color

Cons

• More particular needs than Cherry Shrimp

8. Nerite Snails

• Scientific Name: Vittina natalensis
• Compatibility: Tetras, Barbs, Guppies
• Size Fully Grown: 0.5 to 1inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 70° to 80° F
• Required Tank Size: 5-gallon

Another wonderful way to add interest and community to a brackish tank is to include some snails – but not every species will be happy in the same waters as your Bumblebee Gobies. Nerite Snails are hardy, gentle, and large enough to avoid becoming prey.

Pros

• Hardy
• The right size for Bumblebee Gobies

Cons

• Vulnerable to larger, aggressive fish

9. Chopstick Snails

• Scientific Name: Stenomelania torulosa
• Compatibility: Shrimp, Guppies, Tetras
• Size Fully Grown: 1.5 to 1.7 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 72° to 86° F
• Required Tank Size: 5-gallon

This snail is easily recognized by its spiky appearance, and it is also a good-sized and interesting tank mate for a Bumblebee.

Pros

• Distinctive look
• Hardy

Cons

• Vulnerable to larger, aggressive fish

10. Mollies

• Scientific Name: Poecilia sphenops
• Compatibility: Guppies, Tetras, Barbs
• Size Fully Grown: 3.5 to 6 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 75° to 80° F
• Required Tank Size: 10-gallon

This species is often mistaken for being a freshwater fish, but Mollies are actually extremely tolerant of brackish or even salty water. They are hardy and peaceful, and a group of four will usually happily live alongside a peaceful group of Bumblebee Gobies.

Pros

• Hardy and adaptable
• Peaceful

Cons

• Might be nipped by aggressive Bumblebee Gobies

11. Columbian Shark Catfish

• Scientific Name: Ariopsis seemanni
• Compatibility: Monos, Gobies, Targetfish
• Size Fully Grown: 10 to 14 inches
• Care Difficulty: Difficult
• Temperature: 75° to 80° F
• Required Tank Size: 70-gallon

If you want something truly interesting that is going to live comfortably with your Bumblebees, Columbian Sharks are a great option. They do have some specific requirements, but they are known to be one of the best tank mates a Bumblebee could have.

Pros

• Get along well with Bumblebee Gobies
• Large and interesting

Cons

• Need a large tank
• Challenging to care for

12. Archer Fish

• Scientific Name: Toxotes (genus)
• Compatibility: Scats, Monos, Puffers
• Size Fully Grown: 5 to 8 inches
• Care Difficulty: Moderate
• Temperature: 71° to 86° F
• Required Tank Size: 55-gallon

There are a number of different types of Archer Fish, and they all like to spend time near the surface of a brackish tank. While they can be aggressive, they will usually stay well out of the way of your Bumblebee Gobies, allowing them to live together peacefully.

Pros

• Variety of individual species
• Thrive in brackish water

Cons

• Require a large tank
• Can be aggressive to other species

13. Swordtails

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii
• Compatibility: Platies, Mollies, Cories
• Size Fully Grown: 5 to 6.5 inches
• Care Difficulty: Easy
• Temperature: 65° to 82° F
• Required Tank Size: 15-gallon

Swordtails often appear as good tank mate options for other fish because they are very peaceful and comfortable in a variety of different environments.

Pros

• Dramatic appearance
• Easy to care for

Cons

• Can be vulnerable to aggressive Bumblebee Gobies

14. Dwarf Indian Mudskipper

• Scientific Name: Periophthalmus novemradiatus
• Compatibility: Guppies, Killifish
• Size Fully Grown: 1.5 to 2.6 inches
• Care Difficulty: Moderate
• Temperature: 77° to 86° F
• Required Tank Size: 30-gallon

Dwarf Indian Mudskippers are another option that usually lives very comfortably alongside Bumblebee Gobies because they will establish a territory and give your Gobies the space that they need. These particular mudskippers are very tiny, with the largest on record measuring only 2.6 inches.

Pros

• Keep to themselves
• Like brackish water

Cons

• Not compatible with many other fish

15. Barred Mudskipper

• Scientific Name: Periophthalmus argentilineatus
• Compatibility: Guppies, Killifish
• Size Fully Grown: 2.5 to 6 inches
• Care Difficulty: Moderate
• Temperature: 77° to 86° F
• Required Tank Size: 30-gallon

Similar in terms of their needs to the Indian Mudskipper, Barred Mudskippers are larger and more common. Their size can mean they are more likely to get into conflict with your Bumblebees, but they will usually avoid each other if they have enough room.

Pros

• Keep to themselves
• Like brackish water

Cons

• Not compatible with many other fish

Summary

So, which tank mates are best for Bumblebee Gobies? You do need to be quite selective, as any fish that lives alongside your Bumblebees need to be peaceful and happy in brackish water, but also willing to keep to themselves.

Fortunately, there are a few great options to choose from, with some of the most compatible being other Bumblebee Gobies, Glass Fish, Shrimp, Snails, Guppies, and Figure 8 Puffers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep a Bumblebee Goby in freshwater?

Bumblebee Gobies should be kept in brackish water as they typically do not live as comfortably in freshwater. They can be kept in freshwater only if the water parameters are very carefully monitored, and even then it might not be healthy for them.

Do Bumblebee Gobies need to be in groups?

Bumblebee Gobies do like to be in groups of around 6-8, but it is not essential. You can keep them alone or in pairs or threes, however, it is likely that they will act more aggressively when their group size is smaller.

Will Bumblebee Gobies eat snails?

Bumblebee Gobies don’t usually eat snails. They are not large enough and snails are not their natural prey. As carnivores, they might eat very tiny invertebrates like brine shrimp, but anything larger should be safe.