Helmeted Goby (Mugilogobius parvus) 3-4cm

• Scientific Name: Mugilogobius parvus (Oshima, 1919)
• Family: Gobiidae
• Synonym: Now considered a synonym of Mugilogobius cavifrons 
• Distribution: Tropical Indo-Pacific — Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Guam 
• Size: Up to 2 cm (0.8 in) 
• Habitat: Brackish and freshwater environments, often in mangroves or shallow coastal areas 

Natural Ecology

• Lives in muddy or sandy bottoms in brackish to freshwater zones 
• Often found in mangrove ecosystems
• Carnivorous: Feeds on worms, small crustaceans, ostracods, chironomid larvae, and juvenile fish 

Aquarium Care

Tank Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 50 liters (13 gallons) 
• Substrate: Fine sand or mud to mimic natural habitat
• Decor: Provide hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, and mangrove-style roots

Water Parameters

• Salinity: Brackish water preferred — lower than typical reef salinity 
• Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
• pH: Slightly alkaline (7.5–8.4)
• Hardness: Moderate

Diet

• Feed with small crustaceans like krill, mysis shrimp, artemia
• Also accepts zooplankton such as Cyclops and copepods 

Behavior & Compatibility

• Aggressiveness: Unknown, but M. cavifrons (its synonym) is noted to be highly predatory and may consume smaller tank mates
• Best kept in species-only tanks or with similarly sized, non-aggressive fish
• May compete for food and space with other bottom dwellers