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FishBrackishIntermediate

Barred Mudskipper

Periophthalmus argentilineatus

A fascinating amphibious fish from Indo-Pacific mangroves, featuring silvery spots and unique land-walking abilities. It demands a specialized brackish paludarium with a securely sealed, humid lid.

Taxonomy

Class:Actinopteri

Order:Perciformes

Family:Gobiidae

Subfamily:Oxudercinae

Genus:Periophthalmus

Species:Periophthalmus argentilineatus

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Water Temperature

24 - 30 °C

pH Value

7.5 - 8.5

Water type

Brackish

Tank level

Bottom

Adult size

12 cm

Minimum tank volume

>= 150 L

Minimum group

>= 1

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat:

Periophthalmus argentilineatus is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Samoa and the northern coasts of Australia. It inhabits mangrove swamps, estuaries, and tidal mudflats, where salinity varies and muddy shorelines are exposed daily.

Taxonomy and Morphology:

Belongs to the family Gobiidae. It has specialized pectoral fins with limb-like joints that allow it to walk on land. Its eyes are positioned high on the head for panoramic vision. Gills are adapted to retain water, allowing it to breathe air when damp.

Social Behavior:

Highly territorial and aggressive, especially towards rival males. They defend their mud territories with threat displays, raising their dorsal fins. Not suitable for community environments unless significant land space is provided.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism:

Body is grayish-brown with dark vertical bars and silvery-white spots along the flanks. The dorsal fins are colorful with dark margins. Males are generally more colorful and showy than females, especially during breeding displays.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Aquarium Setup:

Must be housed in a specialized paludarium (aquaterrarium) with a land area consisting of sand, mud, or rocks, and a shallow brackish water section. Include roots or branches for climbing. A tight-fitting lid is mandatory to maintain humidity and prevent escapes.

Diet and Feeding:

Carnivorous, hunting primarily on land. Feed live insects like small crickets, fruit flies, and mealworms. Frozen foods can be offered using tweezers on the land zone. They will rarely consume standard dry fish food.

Water Quality:

Water must be brackish, with specific gravity between 1.005 and 1.015 using marine salt. Keep water and air temperature between 24 and 30 °C, and pH between 7.5 and 8.5. Good filtration is necessary to process waste.

Compatibility and Cohabitation:

Best kept in a species-only setup. They will prey on any small fish or invertebrates. Multiple mudskippers can cohabitate only if the enclosure is very large with plenty of visual barriers to establish territories.

Aquarium Breeding:

Breeding in home aquariums is virtually impossible. In nature, they dig deep, complex burrows in the mud where eggs are deposited in specialized air-filled chambers, which cannot be easily simulated in captivity.

Risks and Diseases:

Dehydration is the biggest risk if air humidity drops. Bacterial and fungal infections of the skin can occur if substrate hygiene is poor. The tank must be tightly sealed to prevent escape and preserve high humidity.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Tropical oceans and reefsAfrica and MadagascarEast AsiaAustralia, New Guinea, and Oceania

Fish profile

Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Sex ratio: Flexible
Feeding frequency: Twice daily
Bioload: The bioload is minimal to moderate. The semi-aquatic setup requires regular water changes. Spot cleaning the land section is crucial for hygiene.
Flow: Strong
Jump risk: Yes
Reproduction: Oviparous
Compatibility & tankmates: Species only
Tank level: Bottom

FishBase

Window to the official scientific data of the species

Data synced on: 06/15/2026

Scientific Parameters & Models

Trophic level: 3.3 ± 0.4 se
Resilience: High (less than 15 months)
Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50): 0.5
Bayesian Length-Weight: a = 0.01096, b = 2.97

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Pearse's Mudskipper

Periophthalmus novemradiatus

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates