{"product_id":"gold-headed-goby-pair","title":"Gold Headed Goby Pair | Valenciennea strigata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gold Headed Goby is a graceful sand-sifting reef fish offered here as a bonded pair - the natural social unit for this species. With a pearly body and a bright golden head crossed by an electric-blue cheek stripe, a pair works the substrate together, scooping mouthfuls of sand and filtering out tiny invertebrates while sharing and defending a communal burrow. Reaching around 15 cm each, they are peaceful and full of character, but worth researching first, as they 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. Within a pair the male is often slightly larger with longer, more pointed 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 feeding well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful. As an established pair these gobies share territory harmoniously and pose no threat to other fish, mixing well in a calm community. 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. Avoid adding a third, unpaired sleeper goby, which can trigger territorial disputes.\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. A settled pair like this one is more likely to spawn, though raising the tiny planktonic larvae is difficult and requires dedicated rearing setups and live foods, so successfully raising young remains uncommon in the home aquarium.\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 Headed 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 each\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 additional unpaired sand-sifting gobies that may trigger territorial disputes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234144174371,"sku":"AA3651-S","price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234144207139,"sku":"AA3651","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234144239907,"sku":"AA3651-L","price":140.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351948411171,"sku":"AA3651-XL","price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562740367651,"sku":"AA3651-S-IMP","price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562740400419,"sku":"AA3651-M-IMP","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562740433187,"sku":"AA3651-L-IMP","price":140.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562740465955,"sku":"AA3651-XL-IMP","price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/gold-headed-goby-pair-43090648400163.webp?v=1790306128","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-headed-goby-pair","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}