Chinese sleeper

Micropercops swinhonis

Fine dusky bars and separate pelvic fins; breeding males develop a reddish belly.

Faint bars, a short eye-to-mouth mark and separate pelvic fins distinguish this sleeper. Breeding males change head shape and belly colour. This illustration depicts a less intensified state with sex unspecified.

Adult length: Up to 6.2 cm
Water temperature: 18–22 °C

The care source suggests cooler water, not a generic warm tropical setup. Small crustaceans are food, so “peaceful” is not a shrimp-safety guarantee. Do not release aquarium fish.

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Appearance and identification

Unlike the strongly banded freshwater bumblebee goby, it has separate pelvic fins and a slightly upturned terminal mouth. It is associated with vegetated, slow-water habitats, not specialised rock grazing. Japanese occurrence includes introductions.

Floor and movement space

Combine planted margins, fine substrate and gentle water movement. A universal minimum tank or group size is unverified; retail juveniles do not determine lifetime space.

Aquarium environment

Vegetated slow-water margins are supported by field evidence. Keep retreats and avoid forcing the entire bottom into strong current. Plant damage is not quantified.