Seafan

    Loading the index

    Emergencies
    On this page

    Gobies

    Gold head sleeper goby

    Valenciennea strigata

    Also sold as Yellowheaded sleeper goby, Blue cheek goby

    Gold head sleeper goby (Valenciennea strigata), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: Leonard Low, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    15.2 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    With corals
    Reef safe with caution
    Captive-bred
    Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
    Show volumes in

    How do you care for the gold head sleeper goby?

    Peaceful; fights own kind unless paired.

    Feeding

    Carnivore; sifts sand for small invertebrates.

    Commonly starves in tanks with immature sand beds; needs frequent feeding (LiveAquaria, plus I).

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 114 litres of water (the care sheet says 30 US gallons).

    Deep, mature live sand bed; jumps.

    Corals and invertebrates

    Does not nip, but sifting dumps sand on corals placed low.

    Which tankmates suit the gold head sleeper goby?

    Competes with other sand sifters; one per tank or a pair.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add after the first peaceful fish.

    More than one gold head sleeper goby

    Only as a mated pair, or two juveniles added together. A third gold head sleeper goby is usually driven out.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Take care (7)

    • Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the gold head sleeper goby, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Yellow watchman gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Orange spotted gobyBoth sift the sand for food and compete for it. Both dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Hi-fin red banded gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the gold head sleeper goby, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the gold head sleeper goby, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Yellowhead jawfishBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    Usually fine together (52)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    No known problems with the corals and anemones in this guide.

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Can lose condition fast in a bare quarantine tank; feed well.

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Wild-caught.

    Where sources disagree

    Other minimum tank sizes we found:

    • Retailer pairs 30 gal with a populated refugium; a larger mature sand bed is safer.

    What does it cost in the UK?

    about £36. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats, feeding.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
    3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

    Last checked . How we check

    Found a mistake? Tell us how to fix it.

    Neon goby

    Elacatinus oceanops

    Good first fish

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    5 cm
    Tank from
    38 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Jmk7, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Yellow clown goby

    Gobiodon okinawae

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    4 cm
    Tank from
    38 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe with caution

    Photo Jenny, CC BY 2.0

    Yellow watchman goby

    Cryptocentrus cinctus

    Good first fish

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    10 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Orange spotted goby

    Amblyeleotris guttata

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    9 cm
    Tank from
    38 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe with caution

    Photo Sushi Girl1995, CC BY-SA 3.0