Aquariumother · freshwater
Bumblebee Goby: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Bumblebee Goby (Brachygobius doriae) grows to about 1.7 in (4.2 cm TL). It needs a tank at least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. Keep at least 6 together, at 72–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Needs special care. Usually ignores dried foods and is best in a species tank, but sold as a community freshwater fish.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 1.7 in (4.2 cm TL)
- Minimum tank
- 18 inches long and about 11 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- pH
- 7–8.5
- Hardness
- 8–20 dGH
- Group size
- 6+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- specialist
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp
Bumblebee Goby tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby.
- BettaNeeds careBetta can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby.
- German Blue RamNeeds careBumblebee Goby and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby.
- Cherry ShrimpBumblebee Goby may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpBumblebee Goby may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Mystery SnailBumblebee Goby (pH 7–8.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Tiger BarbNeeds careTiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby.
Avoid
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksCommon / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bumblebee Goby is peaceful.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksBumblebee Goby (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.
- Pictus CatfishOutgrows tanksPictus Catfish eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Bumblebee Goby
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Bumblebee Goby may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Bumblebee Goby may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Betta | Caution | Betta can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Bumblebee Goby and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Bumblebee Goby may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | Bumblebee Goby (pH 7–8.5) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Bumblebee Goby may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Bumblebee Goby (8–20 dGH) and Crystal Red Shrimp (4–6 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Discus | Caution | Bumblebee Goby (8–20 dGH) and Discus (0–5 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Dwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Bumblebee Goby and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Bumblebee Goby may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 7× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Bumblebee Goby (pH 7–8.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Bumblebee Goby (8–20 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Bumblebee Goby and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark grows 4× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami grows 4× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Bumblebee Goby and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach grows 5× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bumblebee Goby is peaceful. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Common / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bumblebee Goby is peaceful. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Bumblebee Goby (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in.; Bumblebee Goby (pH 7–8.5) and Pictus Catfish (pH 5.8–6.8) prefer different pH. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Avoid | Tinfoil Barb eats small fish, and Bumblebee Goby only grows to about 1.7 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Small live foods (Artemia, Daphnia) essential, dried foods normally ignored; hard freshwater or slightly brackish (optional marine salt ~2 g/L as buffer); best in a species tank with lots of cover
Group: SF: group of at least 6 spreads aggression; males territorial toward each other; break lines of sight with cover
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Bumblebee Goby get?
About 1.7 inches (4.2 cm TL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Bumblebee Goby need?
At least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Bumblebee Gobys should be kept together?
At least 6. SF: group of at least 6 spreads aggression; males territorial toward each other; break lines of sight with cover
What fish can live with a Bumblebee Goby?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Bumblebee Goby setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 72–82°F.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified (independent spot-check). Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/brachygobius-doriae/
- fishbase.se /summary/Brachygobius-doriae.html
- seriouslyfish.com /species/brachygobius-sabanus/
- seriouslyfish.com /species/brachygobius-xanthozonus/