Home · Gobiidae · Cable's sleeper
Cable's sleeper (Eleotrica cableae) — Gobiidae

Cable's sleeper

Eleotrica cableae
Family: Gobiidae

The Cable's sleeper (Eleotrica cableae) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Galapagos Is.

Want the complete picture on the Cable's sleeper?

Description

The Cable's sleeper is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh and brackish water of lower river reaches and coastal lakes of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has an elongate, dark-brown body with a broad head and separate pelvic fins. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among roots, stones and leaf litter and seizes small fish, crustaceans and insects. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cable's sleeper?

The Cable's sleeper has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Cable's sleeper live?

The Cable's sleeper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South America: Galapagos Is.

How big does the Cable's sleeper get?

The Cable's sleeper grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Cable's sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Cable's sleeper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Cable's sleeper (Eleotrica cableae) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Billy Bensted-Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Cable's sleeper (Eleotrica cableae) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Billy Bensted-Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Cable's sleeper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cable's sleeper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Cable's sleeper sourced
Scientific name
Eleotrica cableae
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Cable's goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Galapagos Is. sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Gobiidae

Want the complete picture on the Cable's sleeper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cable's sleeper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Cable's sleeper?