Blue Spotted Sleeper Goby

The blue spotted sleeper goby, Valenciennea sexguttata, is a pale sand-sifting fish with distinctive spots around its head. It searches the substrate for small food items, making the condition and maturity of the sand bed part of its care requirements.

Provide open sand, secure rockwork and a sheltered burrow area. Offer small marine meaty foods directly and confirm that the goby is eating them. Sand sifting is feeding behaviour, not proof that the aquarium can supply enough nutrition without supplemental meals.

Peaceful neighbours give it a better opportunity to forage. Watch for territorial conflict with other bottom-dwelling fish, and do not assume that two purchased gobies are a bonded pair. A covered aquarium helps prevent escape, while careful coral placement limits problems if sand is displaced around the display.