Mural Sleeper Goby

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indo-West Pacific. Inhabits shallow lagoons, muddy coastal zones, and sandy flats near coral reefs down to depths of 15 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Gobiidae. Reaches about 14 cm. Elongated and cylindrical body with a large head, high-set eyes, and a rounded tail.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and hard-working fish. Digs deep tunnels under rocks, lifting and sifting sand continuously to feed.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Light beige or sand background coloration marked by three characteristic longitudinal orange or red stripes and small metallic neon-blue spots on the head.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 110 liters (30 gallons) with a fine sand bed at least 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) deep. Place live rocks firmly on the bottom glass.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Sifts sand. Supplement with mysis, brine shrimp, and small sinking pellets for carnivores multiple times daily.

Water Quality: Maintain temperature at 22-26°C (72-78°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Use good mechanical filtration to capture suspended sand.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Reef-safe. Does not harm corals, but its digging activity can cover bottom-dwelling corals with sand.

Aquarium Breeding: Reproduction is not common in the hobby. Pairs lay adhesive eggs inside the tunnels, defending the nesting site vigorously.

Risks and Diseases: Salta frequently if startled or at night. Cover the aquarium. Risk of starvation in aquariums with a sterile sand bed.