Chlamydogobius squamigenus
Edgbaston Desert-goby
One of six known desert gobies, all in the endemic Australian genus Chlamydogobius and all restricted to isolated Great Artesian Basin springs or similarly cut-off desert waters. Aquarium biology is presumed broadly similar to the widely-kept Chlamydogobius eremius (Desert Goby, covered in its own account above) unless noted otherwise below.
Species Summary
Chlamydogobius squamigenus is native to the springs near Edgbaston Station homestead in central Queensland, home also to the Critically Endangered Red-finned Blue-eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis). The first aquarium specimens were sourced directly from Peter Unmack during the period he was collecting Red-finned Blue-eyes at the same springs. Males show a 1st dorsal fin black at the base with a slash of blue broadening towards the rear and a faint yellow tip, a 2nd dorsal and anal fin deep blue-black edged in light blue, and a blue and black caudal fin, over a yellowish-to-brown body with faint brown bars along the mid-lateral line; females share the pattern but lack its depth of colour. It is very threatened, mainly by habitat degradation and the presence of Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki).
Breeding
Breeding information mirrors that of the Desert Goby, Chlamydogobius eremius, though Chlamydogobius squamigenus hatches a little faster — about 10 days at 26 °C, producing around 50 eggs per clutch.
Compiled for Home of the Rainbowfish from ANGFA sources: N. Armstrong, “Desert gobies Chlamydogobius”, Fishes of Sahul 15, 2001, pp. 740–749.