Bereme Creek Goby (Sicyopus beremeensis)

An extremely rare Papua New Guinea stream goby for mature, clean, high-oxygen river-style aquariums.

The Bereme Creek Goby, Sicyopus beremeensis, is a rare freshwater stream goby from Papua New Guinea and one of the most unusual gobies available to serious collectors. This species is associated with fast, rocky mountain creek habitats, making it a very different fish from common bottom dwellers or ordinary aquarium gobies.

Unlike many Stiphodon gobies that are marketed mainly as algae and biofilm grazers, Sicyopus gobies should be treated as more omnivorous to micro-predatory stream fish. They may graze surfaces, but their long-term care should include small meaty foods, fine frozen foods, and high-quality sinking foods in addition to mature biofilm.

This is not a beginner cleanup fish. Bereme Creek Goby is best for aquarists who can provide clean water, strong oxygenation, stable flow, smooth stones, hiding areas, and a mature aquarium with established surfaces.

Why this fish stands out

• Extremely rare freshwater goby from Papua New Guinea
• Scientific name: Sicyopus beremeensis
• Recently described species with very limited aquarium availability
• Specialized stream goby for high-oxygen river-style tanks
• More predatory and protein-oriented than typical Stiphodon gobies
• Excellent collector fish for rare goby and hillstream aquarium enthusiasts
• Small size but very high specialty value

Best for

• Rare goby collectors
• Hillstream and river-tank enthusiasts
• Advanced nano fish keepers
• High-oxygen planted aquariums
• Specialty stream fish setups
• Aquarists looking for rare Papua New Guinea freshwater fish in Canada

Topick Aquarium Insight

Bereme Creek Goby should not be sold as a normal algae eater. The most important difference between Sicyopus and many Stiphodon gobies is diet. Stiphodon are often more biofilm and algae focused, while Sicyopus gobies are better treated as omnivorous or micro-predatory stream gobies.

This means the goal is not just to provide algae-covered rocks. A good setup should combine mature biofilm, smooth stones, clean flow, and regular small foods such as daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp, crushed sinking foods, and quality micro pellets.

A healthy Bereme Creek Goby should have a full body, strong grip, steady breathing, and active feeding response. Thin stream gobies can be difficult to recover, so proper holding, feeding, and conditioning before sale are especially important.

Sicyopus vs Stiphodon Gobies

Many customers are familiar with Stiphodon gobies such as Blue Neon, Black Kumpay, or Rainbow Stiphodon. Bereme Creek Goby belongs to a different genus: Sicyopus.

• Stiphodon gobies: usually more focused on algae, biofilm, and surface grazing
• Sicyopus gobies: usually more omnivorous or micro-predatory, needing more protein-rich small foods
• Both: prefer mature, clean, oxygen-rich stream-style aquariums

Care overlap exists, but feeding expectations should not be the same. Bereme Creek Goby is better positioned as a rare stream goby, not a basic cleanup fish.

Colour & Sex Differences

Male Bereme Creek Gobies can show much stronger colour and contrast than females, especially when mature, settled, and displaying. Females and juveniles are usually more subtle.

• Males: stronger contrast, darker head and brighter body markings when mature and confident
• Females: more subtle grey-brown body tone with less dramatic contrast
• New arrivals: colour may fade temporarily during stress or acclimation
• Settled fish: colour improves with clean water, good food, flow, and low stress

Do not judge this species only by arrival colour. Like many stream gobies, full colour often appears after the fish settles into a stable aquarium.

Behavior & Group Size

Bereme Creek Gobies are bottom-oriented stream fish that spend much of their time on stones, glass, wood, and hardscape. They are not aggressive predators, but males may become territorial around preferred feeding spots, shelters, or display areas.

They can be kept singly, but a small group is more interesting when the aquarium is large enough and well structured. We recommend 3 or more only when the tank has enough smooth stones, hiding areas, food access, and broken lines of sight.

In smaller tanks, a single specimen or carefully selected pair may be easier to manage than multiple males competing in the same limited space.

Tank Setup

Bereme Creek Goby should be kept in a mature, clean, oxygen-rich aquarium. A brand-new aquarium with no established biofilm or unstable water is not suitable.

• Minimum recommended tank: 20 gallons long for a small group
• 10 gallons may work for a single fish if mature, stable, and well oxygenated
• Mature aquarium strongly recommended
• Moderate to strong flow preferred
• Strong aeration and clean water are essential
• Smooth river stones, rounded gravel, and driftwood provide surfaces and cover
• Broken lines of sight help reduce male territorial pressure
• Tight-fitting lid recommended

A river-style layout with smooth rocks, open flow, and shaded hiding areas is ideal. Hardy plants such as Anubias, Java Fern, Bucephalandra, and mosses can be used, but the layout should be designed around flow, oxygen, and feeding access first.

Water Parameters

• Scientific Name: Sicyopus beremeensis
• Common Names: Bereme Creek Goby, Papua New Guinea Creek Goby, PNG Stream Goby
• Temperature: 22–26°C
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Adult Size: approximately 5–6 cm
• Temperament: Peaceful, with possible male territorial behavior
• Diet: Omnivore / micro-predator
• Care Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Stable, oxygen-rich water is more important than chasing exact numbers. Avoid hot, low-flow, low-oxygen aquariums, especially heavily stocked community tanks.

Feeding

Bereme Creek Goby should not be fed like a purely algae-eating fish. A mature aquarium with biofilm is helpful, but this species also needs small protein-rich foods and fine sinking foods.

• Frozen daphnia
• Frozen cyclops
• Baby brine shrimp
• Finely chopped bloodworms in moderation
• Fine sinking micro pellets
• Crushed high-quality flakes or granules
• Occasional algae-based or spirulina foods

Feed small amounts and make sure food reaches the bottom. Faster midwater fish can outcompete stream gobies, so target feeding near stones, caves, or low-flow pockets can help maintain body condition.

Repashy-style gel foods placed on smooth stones can also work well, especially when mixed with both algae-based and protein-rich ingredients.

Tank Mates

Choose peaceful tank mates that enjoy clean, oxygen-rich water and will not outcompete the goby for food.

• Small danios
• White Cloud Mountain Minnows
• Small peaceful barbs
• Peaceful Stiphodon gobies
• Small hillstream loaches
• Peaceful community fish in cooler, oxygen-rich setups

Avoid aggressive cichlids, puffers, large predators, rough bottom feeders, and very warm low-flow community tanks.

Shrimp Compatibility

Bereme Creek Goby should not be marketed as a fully shrimp-safe fish in the same way as many Stiphodon gobies. It is a small fish, but because Sicyopus gobies are more omnivorous to micro-predatory, very tiny shrimplets and small microfauna may be at risk.

Adult dwarf shrimp may often be ignored in a well-fed, properly designed setup, but breeding shrimp colonies will have better baby survival in shrimp-only aquariums.

Breeding

Bereme Creek Goby is not expected to breed successfully in standard freshwater aquariums. Like many Sicydiine stream gobies, it is associated with an amphidromous life cycle: adults live and spawn in freshwater streams, while larvae develop downstream in marine or marine-influenced conditions before returning to freshwater.

Aquarium spawning behavior may occur, but raising fry is not realistic for most hobbyists.

Canada-Wide Live Fish Shipping

Bereme Creek Goby is available from Topick Aquarium in Canada when in stock. Local pickup is available in Markham, Ontario, and Canada-wide live fish shipping may be available depending on weather, route, and livestock condition.

Important Note

Bereme Creek Goby is a rare specialty stream fish, not a general-purpose algae cleaner. It requires mature water, strong oxygenation, clean surfaces, hiding areas, and regular feeding.

This fish is best for aquarists who understand river-style aquarium care and are willing to monitor feeding and body condition. It should not be added to immature, unstable, low-oxygen, or overcrowded aquariums.

FAQ

What is Bereme Creek Goby?
Bereme Creek Goby is a rare freshwater stream goby with the scientific name Sicyopus beremeensis. It originates from Papua New Guinea and is best kept in mature, oxygen-rich river-style aquariums.

What is the scientific name?
The scientific name is Sicyopus beremeensis.

Is Bereme Creek Goby rare?
Yes. It is a very uncommon goby in the aquarium trade and should be treated as a rare collector species rather than a common community fish.

Is it the same as a Stiphodon goby?
No. Bereme Creek Goby belongs to the genus Sicyopus, while Blue Neon, Rainbow, and Black Kumpay gobies are usually sold under Stiphodon. Care overlaps, but Sicyopus gobies are generally more protein-oriented.

Is Bereme Creek Goby a good algae eater?
It may graze biofilm and surface growth, but it should not be purchased as a primary algae cleaner. It needs small meaty foods, fine sinking foods, and mature biofilm for long-term health.

Will it eat shrimp?
It is not a large shrimp predator, but very small shrimplets may be at risk because Sicyopus gobies are more omnivorous to micro-predatory than typical algae-grazing Stiphodon gobies.

Does it need strong flow?
It does best in clean, oxygen-rich water with moderate to strong flow. Oxygenation and stable water quality are more important than extreme current alone.

Can it live in a normal community tank?
Only if the tank is mature, clean, peaceful, well oxygenated, and not too warm. Hot, low-flow, unstable, or heavily stocked tanks are not suitable.

Can it breed in freshwater?
Not normally. Like many stream gobies, it is associated with an amphidromous life cycle where larvae require marine or marine-influenced development.

Why is my Bereme Creek Goby hiding?
New arrivals may hide while settling. Provide smooth stones, caves, shaded areas, stable water, and small foods near the bottom to help the fish gain confidence.