Taxonomy & naming
Stiphodon annieae is a true goby of the family Oxudercidae, placed in the Sicydiinae, the amphidromous stream gobies of Indo-Pacific islands. The Catalog of Fishes lists it as valid under the authority Keith & Hadiaty, 2015. The type locality is given there as: South Wosea, DS. Sawai, Weda Tengah, Halmahera, Maluku, Indonesia.
Morphology
Sicydiine gobies have the pelvic fins fused into a cup-shaped sucker disc, which lets them hold position on rock in fast current and climb wet rock faces on the way upstream. Males in this group are usually more colourful than females. FishBase gives a maximum of 1 in SL for this species; a detailed colour description has not been compiled here.
Habitat
FishBase reports that the species was found in a clear, high-gradient stream with a rocky bottom, living on the bed and on top of rocks. It is listed as freshwater and benthopelagic, with a range limited to Indonesia. Measured water chemistry has not been published.
Feeding
Stiphodon species are specialised grazers that scrape algae and diatoms from rock surfaces, and this species is expected to feed the same way. Its diet has not been described specifically.
Mating
Mating has not been described for this species. In better-studied sicydiines, males hold small territories on stream rock and court females at a nest site.
Breeding
FishBase treats the species as amphidromous. In that life cycle eggs are laid in fresh water, the larvae drift to sea, and the post-larvae return to rivers months later. Details specific to this species have not been published. It cannot be assumed to breed in a closed freshwater aquarium, and trade fish are wild-collected.
In the aquarium
Species in the trade under this name are demanding. They need cool to moderate, very clean, strongly oxygenated water, brisk flow, rock surfaces with mature biofilm, and a tightly closed lid. Husbandry for Stiphodon annieae itself has not been documented, so general sicydiine practice is the only guide. Identity of fish sold under this name should be treated with caution.
Conservation
The species has not been assessed by the IUCN. Like other amphidromous gobies, it depends on unobstructed streams down to the sea, and dams, weirs and stream degradation are threats to the group.