Diamond watchman goby
Valenciennea puellaris
Diamond watchman goby (Valenciennea puellaris) is a marine species with an adult-size reference of about 14 cm. It needs at least 250 litres and one individual, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
14 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 250 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A marine species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Valenciennea puellaris; the verified classification records genus Valenciennea, family Gobiidae, subfamily Gobiinae, order Gobiiformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Diamond watchman goby is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The minimum reference is one individual; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Diamond watchman goby needs an aquarium of at least 250 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of one individual. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a marine species; the card's reference values are 24–28 °C, pH 8.1–8.4. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is reef-safe, with a generally peaceful temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “oviparity”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Origine et répartition géographiques
A marine species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAfrique et Madagascar
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- Diamond watchman goby has a generally peaceful temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- This species is a carnivorous sand-sifter that relies heavily on benthic microfauna. It constantly scoops mouthfuls of sand, sifting out small crustaceans, worms, and organic matter through its gills. While they will accept prepared frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp, a mature sandbed teeming with copepods is essential for long-term survival. Supplementary feeding multiple times a day may be required if the tank lacks sufficient natural food.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-12 years
- Taille adulte
- 14 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- Diamond watchman goby is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The reference minimum is one individual and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Due to their active metabolism and constant foraging, these gobies need to feed frequently. They should be offered small amounts of food at least two to three times daily if the natural microfauna is limited. A well-established refugium can help supply a continuous source of pods. Without adequate feedings, they are prone to slowly starving in captivity.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- This marine goby has a relatively low bioload compared to larger predatory fish. Its constant sand-sifting behavior actually helps process detritus and uneaten food in the substrate. Maintaining a healthy sandbed is crucial for biological filtration with this species. Therefore, a mature aquarium with a deep sand bed will easily handle the minimal waste it produces.
- Courant
- Strong
- These gobies appreciate moderate to gentle water flow that does not disturb the sandbed excessively. High, sweeping currents can blow away their carefully constructed burrows and strip the sand of organic matter. A steady but diffused flow helps oxygenate the water while keeping their benthic environment stable. Ensuring lower flow near the bottom of the tank is highly recommended.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding in captivity is possible but rearing the fry is extremely challenging. They are demersal spawners, typically laying their adhesive eggs on the ceiling of a burrow or a protected cave. The male guards and aerates the clutch until they hatch into pelagic larvae. Because the larvae are microscopic and require specialized rotifer diets, few successfully raise them in home aquariums.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Reef safe
- The cohabitation profile is reef-safe, with a generally peaceful temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- This fish is almost exclusively a bottom-dweller, spending its day hovering just above the substrate. It continuously interacts with the sandbed, digging and sifting to find food. It will construct a burrow under liverock, where it retreats when threatened and sleeps at night. Providing plenty of open sandy areas and secure rockwork is essential.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase Catalog curation 2026-05-09Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,2 ± 0,3 se
- Résilience
- Moyenne (1,4 - 4,4 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01023, b = 3.01
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (14 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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