All fish / Gobiidae

Randall's Sleeper Goby

Valenciennea randalli

Also known as randall's goby, randall's sleeper goby, greenband goby, green-band goby, sand sifting goby, sleeper goby, randalli goby, ランドールズハゼ, 兰道氏凡塞鰕虎鱼, 蓝带虾虎

A slim, pale goby with a yellow head and a pale greenish to grey band along the body, often with a dark dorsal fin spot. It is kept for its habit of sifting mouthfuls of sand, which keeps the substrate stirred and clean in reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: small invertebrates sifted from sand; offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and sinking pellets several times a day

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia to New Guinea and Palau

Breeding

Pairs dig a burrow beneath rocks where the female lays eggs that the male guards. Spawning happens occasionally in captivity, but raising the tiny larvae is very difficult.

Good to know

Needs a deep, fine sand bed and a mature tank with plenty of live food, or it may starve. It is a strong jumper, so a tight lid is essential, and it may bury corals placed on the sand.