China Sleeper Goby

Bostrychus sinensis is a formidable estuarine and coastal freshwater predator distributed from southern China through Vietnam and the Philippines down to the Indonesian archipelago. It belongs to the family Eleotridae and is characterised by its distinctly flattened, broad head, very wide mouth, and a complex brown-and-cream marbled pattern that gives it an almost wood-grain appearance. In the wild it inhabits mangrove roots, muddy substrates, and tidal channels, ambushing fish and crustaceans from concealed positions. In the aquarium it requires spacious housing, hiding places large enough to accommodate its body, and a diet of substantial meaty foods. It tolerates fresh to brackish water and is generally tolerant of water condition variation, though good filtration is important given its messy feeding habits. Not a community fish — best kept alone or with large, similarly robust species.

Water: 22–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, GH 8–25, KH 4–15; fresh to brackish; tolerant of moderate salinity. Tank: 200 L minimum; large caves and overhangs; muddy or sandy substrate; dim lighting preferred. Feeding: Carnivore; feeder shrimp, prawns, mussels, frozen fish pieces; can be trained to large pellets. Breeding: Rarely bred in captivity; benthic spawner in the wild. Compatibility: Predatory; species-only or with fish larger than its mouth; will eat shrimp, small fish, and invertebrates.