Black Towuti goby

Endemic to Lake Towuti in Sulawesi, Indonesia, Mugilogobius hitam is a small benthic goby that inhabits shallow, well-oxygenated waters with coarse gravel substrates. Described as recently as 2014, it is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to its extremely restricted range — the entire species lives in a single lake. Males develop a dark, almost black body with pale fin margins during breeding, while females remain a more muted brown. Reaching around 4.3 cm standard length, this goby is best suited to a species-only tank or a community of similarly small, peaceful Sulawesi endemics. A 30-litre setup with fine sand, scattered smooth pebbles, and moderate water movement mimics its natural habitat. The water should be hard and alkaline, typical of Towuti's ancient lake system. Mugilogobius hitam is a micropredator that picks at small invertebrates and will accept frozen daphnia, cyclopeeze, and finely crushed flake. It should not be housed with larger or boisterous tankmates, as it is both peaceful and shy. Breeding in captivity is rare, and the species requires pristine water conditions — an experienced aquarist familiar with Sulawesi biotopes will have the best chance of success.