{"product_id":"gold-head-goby-pair-each","title":"Gold Head Goby Pair Each | Valenciennea strigata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gold Head Goby is a graceful, endlessly busy sand-sifter with a pearly body and a bright golden head marked by an electric-blue streak below the eye. This listing is priced per fish, so buying two lets you keep the bonded pairs these gobies naturally form in the wild - a captivating sight as they share and defend a burrow together. Each fish spends the day scooping mouthfuls of sand and filtering out tiny invertebrates, keeping the substrate turned over. Reaching around 15 cm, it is peaceful and full of character, but worth researching first, as it can slowly starve without a well-stocked sand bed. Keep a well-sealed lid, as sleeper gobies jump.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eValenciennea strigata lives across the Indo-Pacific on sand and rubble zones next to reef, where monogamous pairs excavate and share a burrow beneath rocks. They rarely stray far from this refuge, retreating into it when startled and sealing it at night. In the aquarium a pair needs an established system with a deep bed of fine sand, plenty of live rock and a healthy population of copepods and other small invertebrates - ideally supported by a refugium - to forage over.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is elongate and pearly white to pale grey, topped by a vivid yellow head and a neon-blue cheek stripe. The mouth is large and downturned, ideal for taking in sand. Males tend to develop slightly longer, more pointed fins, which can help when selecting a pair. Healthy specimens are alert, plump through the belly and constantly working the substrate; a pinched or sunken stomach is a warning sign of a fish that is not feeding well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful. Gold Head Gobies are no threat to other fish and mix well in a calm community. A bonded pair will happily share territory, but two unpaired individuals may squabble in a smaller tank, so it is best to buy them together and let them settle as a pair. They are completely safe with corals, though they will shower low-lying corals and clams with sand, and they will not harm ornamental shrimp or other invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the key to long-term success. These carnivores naturally sift sand for tiny crustaceans and worms and can quickly strip a tank's microfauna bare - and a pair depletes it twice as fast. Supplement heavily with frequent small meals of enriched mysis, vitamin-soaked brine shrimp, live blackworm, copepods and finely chopped meaty foods. A mature sand bed and a productive refugium make all the difference. Do not rely on natural sifting alone; captive starvation is the most common cause of loss in this species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a pair, provide a minimum aquarium of around 150 L, with 200 L or larger recommended for a more stable food supply and open foraging area. Maintain temperature at 24-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4 and salinity around 1.020-1.026. A deep bed of fine, soft sand is essential, along with mature live rock offering caves and burrow sites. Gentle to moderate flow suits them. A tight-fitting lid is important, as these gobies jump readily, especially when first settling in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese gobies form monogamous pairs and will spawn in the aquarium, with the female laying eggs in the shared burrow and the male guarding them for a couple of days until they hatch. Raising the tiny planktonic larvae is difficult and requires dedicated rearing setups and live foods, so while pairing and spawning are often seen, successfully raising young is uncommon at home. A bonded pair sharing a burrow is a delight to watch regardless.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eValenciennea strigata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGold Head Sleeper Goby (Blueband \/ Yellowhead Sleeper Goby)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific sand and rubble zones near reef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 18 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 L for a pair\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; sand-sifter needing frequent small meaty foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1-8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020-1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature reef and fish-only systems with a deep sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe (may shower low corals with sand)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, small peaceful wrasses, firefish, cardinalfish, dartfish, other calm gobies and reef community fish, as well as ornamental shrimp and snails.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or boisterous fish that will outcompete them for food or intimidate them, as well as other unpaired sand-sifting gobies in smaller tanks where they may fight over territory.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234138636579,"sku":"BA9137","price":218.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234138669347,"sku":"BA9137-M","price":250.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234138702115,"sku":"BA9137-L","price":288.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351941202211,"sku":"BA9137-XL","price":332.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753966371,"sku":"BA9137-S-IMP","price":218.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753999139,"sku":"BA9137-M-IMP","price":250.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754031907,"sku":"BA9137-L-IMP","price":288.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754064675,"sku":"BA9137-XL-IMP","price":332.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/gold-head-goby-pair-each-10266760020259-sp.webp?v=1790313948","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-head-goby-pair-each","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}