Banded sleeper goby

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Marine species widely distributed in the shallow coastal waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Prefers quiet sandy bottoms around rocky reefs and silty lagoon areas.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Medium-sized Sifting Goby (Banded Goby, Gobiidae family). Reaches 15 cm (6 inches). Cylindrical body, stocky head equipped with a large mouth suitable for filtering the substrate. Possesses fins shaped to "rest" on the bottom.

Social Behavior: Hardworking and placid fish. Spends almost the entire day taking mouthfuls of sand and filtering it through the gills to extract microfauna and debris, keeping the seabed stirred and very white. Can be aggressive towards conspecifics.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Light livery crossed by characteristic and thick reddish-brown or greenish vertical bands. Has flashy black spots (ocelli) bordered in yellow on the dorsal fins and, in some specimens, on the tail, to disorient predators. Monomorphic.

Aquarium Setup: Fundamental requirement: mature tank (minimum 200 liters / 50 gallons) with at least 5 cm of fine or medium coral sand (sugar-sized). Thick granulometries will wound the gills leading to death. Arrange flat rocks under which it will dig its own safe den.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous benthic, formidable eater of algae (including cyanobacteria) and interstitial fauna of the sand. Must be abundantly supplemented with live food, frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp and tablets for bottom fish.

Water Quality: Reef-safe and very robust. Standard marine water: SG 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4. Fears the lack of oxygen near the seabed. Moderate current, as it hates being dragged away by the strong jets of the pumps.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal for reef tanks in the company of docile fish and free swimmers. Fights furiously and territorially only with other sifting Gobies (e.g. Valenciennea) for the dominion of the sand. Ignores corals but its digging work can cover them with sand if positioned too low.

Aquarium Reproduction: Spawning in the aquarium is rare and occurs in the dark of the dens, where the male takes care of the adhesive eggs. Rearing the larvae in a community tank is impossible due to the strong predatory instinct of other fish and skimmers.

Risks and Diseases: The main risk is wasting and death from starvation in sterile tanks, too young or lacking the correct sandy substrate to filter. Famous jumpers: always cover the aquarium meticulously.