Encyclopaedia
Bella Goby
Valenciennea bella
A colorful sand-sifting goby with yellow cheeks and pinkish hues, ideal for keeping reef sand clean.
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Pacifico occidentale: isole Ryukyu, Taiwan e Filippine.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaSouth and Southeast AsiaEast Asia
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Bottom
8 cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Tropical Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Found on sandy substrates near coral reefs from 2 to 25 meters deep.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Elongated body with a large mouth suited for scooping and filtering sand. Reaches 8.0 cm in length.
Social Behavior: Peaceful and shy. Lives in monogamous pairs or singly. Excavates burrows under rocks where they retreat at night.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Bright yellow head with metallic blue stripes under the eyes. Body is pinkish-grey with orange longitudinal bands. No sexual dimorphism.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 100 liters with a deep sand bed (at least 5 cm). Rocks must be secure as they will dig underneath. A tight-fitting lid is essential.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous sand-sifter. Constantly filters sand for microfauna. Supplement with frequent feedings of frozen mysis, artemia, and sinking pellets near the substrate.
Water Quality: Keep reef parameters stable: temperature 22-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.025. Standard reef filtration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful with other fish. Do not house with aggressive bottom-dwelling species or large predators.
Aquarium Breeding: Lays eggs inside their burrow. The pair guards the nest. Raising the planktonic larvae is extremely difficult.
Risks and Diseases: Starvation in tanks with sterile sand beds. Highly prone to jumping when startled.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Pacifico
- Diet
- Carnivoro
- Tank level
- Bottom
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank volume
- 100 L
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- 8 dKH - 12 dKH
- TDS
- n/a
- Conductivity
- n/a
- Sex ratio
- Singolo o Coppia
- Feeding frequency
- 3 o più volte al giorno
- Bioload
- Low
- Flow
- Moderato
- Jump risk
- Covered tank required
- Reproduction
- Forma coppie monogame. Depone uova adesive all'interno di gallerie scavate sotto la roccia.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Totalmente pacifico. Eccellente per la pulizia del substrato sabbioso in acquari marini.
Ecological Estimates & Biological Models
- Trophic level
- 3 ± 0 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.09
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
