Atlantic Mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) Care Guide
Periophthalmus barbarus is an amphibious West African goby that breathes air and skips across mudflats, needing a brackish paludarium with land.
Overview
Periophthalmus barbarus, the Atlantic Mudskipper, is an amphibious goby that uses its pectoral and pelvic fins to skip, crawl and climb on land. It can reach up to about 25 cm and spends much of the day out of water. Its eyes can move independently, giving near-360-degree vision.
Taxonomy
- Family: Oxudercidae
- Genus: Periophthalmus
- Scientific name: Periophthalmus barbarus
Habitat
It inhabits mangrove forests and tidal flats along tropical West African Atlantic coasts, in fresh, brackish and marine waters, with records from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Ghana. It shelters in burrows during high tide and spends most of the day on land.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L (about 26 gal) paludarium with land area
- Temperature: 25-30 °C (77-86 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 15-30 °dGH
- Lifespan: up to about 15 years recorded; average around 5 years
Diet
It is carnivorous, taking worms, crickets, flies, mealworms, beetles, small fish and small crustaceans such as sesarmid crabs.
Compatibility
A top-dwelling, semi-aggressive species that is territorial and builds a wall of mud around its territory. It is best kept with other mudskippers in a brackish paludarium; fully submerged community fish are unsuitable for its amphibious lifestyle.
Breeding
Spawning occurs mainly between February and May for males and March and May for females. Males provide paternal care, guarding eggs within their burrows.