Fin's Fish Guide
The Crazy fish (Butis butis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 15 cm.
Description
The duckbill sleeper is a fish of the family Eleotridae (sleeper gobies) widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific. The species has an elongate, brown mottled body with a pointed, beak-like head and reaches about 15 cm. It inhabits brackish mangrove estuaries, lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers, usually on mud bottoms among vegetation, and sometimes ascends further upstream. Remarkably it can swim and hover upside down, hence its English nickname 'crazy fish'. It is an ambush predator feeding on small fishes and crustaceans.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Crazy fish?
The Crazy fish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Can swim and hover upside down (hence 'crazy fish'); stalking predator of mangrove estuaries.
Where does the Crazy fish live?
The Crazy fish lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the western Pacific.
How big does the Crazy fish get?
The Crazy fish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.
Is the Crazy fish dangerous to humans?
No, the Crazy fish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Crazy fish edible?
The Crazy fish is rarely eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Butis
More from the family Eleotridae
Want the complete picture on the Crazy fish?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Crazy fish is one of 12,519 species in the app.