Diamond watchman goby
Valenciennea puellaris · Gobiidae
Also known as Orange-spotted sleeper goby
Intermediate
Constantly sifts and cleans the sand bed; needs a deep, established bed to stay fed.
In short: A diamond watchman goby needs at least 190 L (50 US gal), water at 23–27 °C (73–81 °F) and pH 8.1–8.4. It is peaceful, usually kept singly, and rated intermediate to keep.
Updated
- Minimum tank
- 190 L (50 US gal)
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 15 cm (5.9 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Reef & marine husbandry
- Specific gravity
- 1.023–1.026
- Reef safety
- Reef safe
- With corals
- Reef safe, though it dusts low corals with sand.
- With inverts
- Reef safe.
- Minimum in a mixed reef
- 190 L (50 US gal)
- Minimum fish-only (FOWLR)
- 190 L (50 US gal)
- Aggression
- Peaceful except to its own kind.
- Feeding
- Twice daily plus sand fauna.
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 190 L (50 US gal)
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- 8–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–6 years
- Diet
- Carnivore — sand micro-fauna, mysis, sinking pellets.
- Care level
- Intermediate
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Indo-Pacific
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Biotope
- Open sand flats beside reef
- Natural conditions
- Deep fine sand bed, moderate flow.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- Bottom
- Good tank mates
- ClownfishTangsFirefish
- Avoid
- Other sleeper gobiesBare-bottom tanks
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males are slightly larger.
- Notes
- Pairs spawn in burrows; rarely reared.
- Common ailments
- StarvationMarine ich
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