Golden Headed Sleeper Goby

The golden headed sleeper goby, Valenciennea strigata, has a pale body, yellow head and blue facial stripe. It takes mouthfuls of sand while searching for small edible organisms, making an established sand habitat central to its care.

Provide a generous sandy area and rock shelters supported securely beneath the substrate. Feed suitable small marine meaty foods close to the bottom and verify that the goby eats them. Sand-sifting activity alone does not demonstrate that it is receiving enough nutrition.

Peaceful tankmates are preferable to aggressive or relentless feeders. Consider how displaced sand will affect nearby corals and the aquarium layout. Use a secure lid, and do not assume that two individually selected gobies will behave as an established pair simply because the species can form pairs in nature.