What do gobies eat? An introduction to common bait types
Gobies is the collective name for the various species in the family Gobiidae, with short, small bodies only a few centimeters long and two dorsal fins. Most inhabit tropical seawater, while some live in rivers, streams and lakes. They are a member of China's native fish family with a relatively large number and variety of species, and are also among the smallest vertebrates in the world. Let us take a look below at what gobies eat!
What do gobies eat?
Gobies have very omnivorous feeding habits. Fish smaller than themselves, shrimp, worms and the eggs of other fish are all food for gobies. They mainly feed on crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs, small fish, and clam larvae. Some feed on benthic diatoms, and species living in freshwater also eat aquatic insects and worms. They reach sexual maturity relatively early; generally carnivorous species mature in one year, while herbivorous species mature in two years.
How long do gobies live?
Gobies are the shortest-lived vertebrates in the world, generally surviving 2 to 3 years, at most 4 years. A species of goby on Australia's Great Barrier Reef can live at most 59 days. Gobies basically live in shallow sea environments, mainly inhabiting nearshore intertidal zones, shallow sea areas with mud, sand or rocky reef substrates, coral reefs and seagrass meadows. They also exist in large numbers in seawater and estuary habitats, including lower reaches of rivers, mangrove wetlands and salt marshes. A few live in torrents or burrow in mud holes, and a few species can fully adapt to freshwater environments.
Common species of gobies
Common species of gobies include the blue-striped goby, sixspot goby, comb goby, orange goby, whip goby, white-backed goby, and dwarf goby, among others. Among them, the dwarf goby is the shortest-lived vertebrate in the world, confirmed by Australian biologists in 2005. Freshwater gobies are mainly produced in China, such as the Polychrome freshwater goby and the Chinese freshwater goby, among others. There are also some brackish-water gobies produced in Southeast Asia, such as the bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae) and other tropical varieties, which are popular ornamental fish varieties.