Bar Goby

About the Bar Goby

The Bar Goby (Ptereleotris zebra), also known as the Zebra Dartfish or Chinese Zebra Goby, is a stunning and peaceful fish featuring distinctive horizontal black and white stripes running the length of its elongated body. This active, graceful swimmer brings elegant movement and striking pattern to reef aquariums. Bar Gobies are known for their hovering behavior in the water column and their tendency to dart quickly into rockwork when startled—hence the "dartfish" common name.

Why Reef Keepers Love This Fish

• Striking Pattern: Bold black and white horizontal stripes create a zebra-like appearance that stands out in any aquarium
• Peaceful Temperament: Gentle and compatible with most community fish and invertebrates
• Reef-Safe: Won't harm corals or invertebrates, making it perfect for mixed reef systems
• Graceful Swimmer: Hovers elegantly in mid-water, adding movement and visual interest
• Hardy & Adaptable: Disease-resistant and forgiving once properly acclimated
• Social Species: Can be kept in pairs or small groups for enhanced natural behavior
• Beginner-Friendly: Easy to feed and care for, accepts prepared foods readily

Care Requirements

Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore—readily accepts frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, high-quality pellets, and other meaty preparations. Feed 1-2 times daily.
Max Size: 4-5 inches

Ideal Water Parameters

Temperature: 72-78°F
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: 1.023-1.025 SG
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: <20 ppm

Tank Placement & Behavior

Bar Gobies are mid-water swimmers that hover gracefully above the rockwork, constantly scanning for food. They're peaceful with other fish and make excellent community tank inhabitants. Unlike bottom-dwelling gobies, Bar Gobies prefer open water and will establish a territory in the mid to upper levels of the aquarium.

These fish are known for their quick, darting movements when startled—they'll rapidly retreat into rockwork crevices or caves. Provide plenty of live rock with hiding spots where they can feel secure. A tight-fitting lid or screen top is essential, as Bar Gobies are excellent jumpers, especially when first introduced or if startled.

Social Behavior: Bar Gobies do well when kept in pairs or small groups (3-5 individuals) if introduced simultaneously. They'll often swim together and display more natural, confident behavior when kept with conspecifics.

What to Expect

Your Bar Goby will arrive healthy and ready to acclimate. They may be shy initially and will dart into hiding spots frequently during the first few days. Once settled, they become more confident and will spend most of their time hovering in open water. Their bold black and white stripes create beautiful contrast in the aquarium, and their graceful swimming behavior is mesmerizing to watch. With their peaceful nature, striking appearance, and ease of care, Bar Gobies are excellent additions to community reef tanks.