<p>The tiger dwarf goby, <i>Mugilogobius tigrinus</i>, is a high-potential brackish water ornamental species, yet protocols for its captive production remain undocumented. The research investigates the impact of sex ratio (low male bias: 1:2, 1:3, 1:4; balanced: 1:1, 2:2, 3:3; high male bias: 2:1, 3:1), salinity (0, 10, 20, 30 ppt) on spawning success, hatching rates, fertilization rate and fecundity of <i>M. tigrinus</i> as well as the influence of tank background colour (black, grey, white) on spawning and hatching success. Balanced sex ratios (2:2 and 3:3) significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) increased spawning frequency, hatching success and fertilization rates. Salinity strongly influenced reproductive performance, with optimal spawning and hatching at 30 ppt, whereas no spawning occurred at 0 ppt. Tank colour also affected reproduction, with black tanks yielding the highest spawning frequency and hatching rates. Larval development followed a positive exponential growth trajectory (<i>R</i>² = 0.947), with metamorphosis to the benthic juvenile stage completed by 51&#xa0;days post-hatch (DPH). The larval rearing protocol yielded a final survival rate of 26 ± 5%. A separate 35-day larval rearing trial revealed that highest survival was achieved with rotifer (<i>Brachionus plicatilis</i>), copepod nauplii (<i>Apocyclops royi</i>) and ciliates (<i>Euplotes</i> sp.), while growth was maximized with copepods, particularly in combination with rotifer. The findings contribute valuable insights for its aquaculture potential in the ornamental fish industry and contribute to the conservation of the species.</p>