{"product_id":"gold-head-sleeper-goby","title":"Gold Head Sleeper Goby | Valenciennea strigata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gold Head Sleeper Goby is a graceful, endlessly busy sand-sifter with a pale body and a bright golden-yellow head marked by an electric-blue streak below the eye. It spends the day scooping up mouthfuls of sand, filtering out tiny invertebrates and spitting the clean grains back out, keeping the substrate turned over and tidy. Reaching around 15 cm, it is a peaceful, characterful reef fish - but an honest one to research first, as it can slowly starve in an aquarium that cannot keep its sand bed stocked with live micro-food. Keep a well-sealed lid, as sleeper gobies are prone to jumping.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eValenciennea strigata lives across the Indo-Pacific on sand and rubble zones adjacent to reef, where monogamous pairs share a burrow they excavate beneath rocks. They rarely stray far from this refuge, retreating into it when startled and sealing it at night. In the aquarium they need 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 that give the fish its name and much of its appeal. The mouth is large and downturned, perfectly suited to taking in sand. Males may develop slightly longer fins. 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 getting enough to eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful. The Gold Head Sleeper Goby is no threat to other fish and mixes well in a calm community, though two unpaired individuals may squabble over territory unless the tank is large or they are a bonded pair. It is completely safe with corals but will constantly shower any low-lying corals and clams with sand, which some sensitive species dislike. It 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. This goby is a carnivore that naturally sifts the sand for tiny crustaceans and worms, and it can quickly strip a tank's microfauna bare. 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\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 110 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 it. A tight-fitting lid is important, as these gobies jump readily, particularly when first settling in. With good feeding and a mature system this is a rewarding and useful reef resident.\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 in the home aquarium. 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\u003e110 L\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 it for food or intimidate it, 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":55234133229859,"sku":"AA2658-S-AU","price":65.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234133262627,"sku":"AA2658","price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234133295395,"sku":"AA2658-L-AU","price":102.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351932453155,"sku":"AA2658-XL-AU","price":117.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753343779,"sku":"AA2658-S-IMP","price":65.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753376547,"sku":"AA2658-M-IMP","price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753409315,"sku":"AA2658-L-IMP","price":102.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562753442083,"sku":"AA2658-XL-IMP","price":117.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/gold-head-sleeper-goby-43090648367395.webp?v=1790305844","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-head-sleeper-goby","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}