Zhou’s scarlet goby

Rhinogobius zhoui

Males show red flank blotches, broad white fin bands and unmarked cheeks.

Adult males have 6–8 orange-red flank blotches, broad white bands on the unpaired fins, unmarked cheeks and no black spot on the first dorsal. Females and juveniles look different.

Adult length: Up to 3.6 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
pH: 7–7.8
Hardness: 5–12 dGH

Natural habitat: Native to streams of Lianhua Mountain in Guangdong, China.

Small size does not remove the need for mature, clean, oxygenated water.

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Appearance and identification

Known from streams around Lianhua Mountain in Haifeng, Guangdong. Compare the male’s red-white fins with the darker pattern and pectoral-base spots of the white-cheeked goby.

Floor and movement space

Arrange rounded rocks, sand, crevices and broken sightlines. A 60 × 30 cm base is suggested.

Aquarium environment

Attached robust plants can add cover while leaving water movement and resting surfaces.

Diet and feeding

Offer suitably small live and frozen foods. Check that it accepts prepared foods; it is not an algae-only cleaner.

Same-species behaviour

Males display and patrol areas. Provide several retreats and watch persistent chasing rather than assuming each male simply guards one cave.

Compatibility limits

Small shrimp may be eaten. Mixing with other Rhinogobius is undesirable because of possible hybridisation.

Sources

doi.org ↗ 2026-10-22