Description
Six-spotted Sleeper Goby (Valenciennea sexguttata)
Overview
The Valenciennea sexguttata, known as the Six-Spot Sleeper Goby or Ladder Goby, is a highly active and effective sand-sifter. It is prized for its attractive, speckled appearance and its relentless work ethic in keeping a sand bed clean, though it requires specific attention to its nutritional needs.
- Temperament: Generally peaceful with other species; can be territorial toward its own kind.
- Size: Grows to approximately 12–14 cm.
- Key Trait: Features six distinctive blue spots along its mid-body. It is a tireless digger, constantly sifting through sand to filter out detritus and small organisms.
- Behavior: Like other members of the Valenciennea genus, it is a master of excavation and requires a secure lid to prevent jumping.
Care Requirements
- Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres. A large sand bed surface area is essential to provide enough forage.
- Environment: A deep, fine-grained sand bed (at least 2–3 inches deep) is mandatory. It cannot be kept in a bare-bottom or coarse-substrate tank. Place all rockwork directly on the bottom glass to ensure that the goby’s extensive tunneling does not cause rock collapses.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 22–26°C.
- Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG.
- pH: 8.1–8.4.
Maintenance
- Water Quality: Maintain standard reef parameters. Low nitrates are important for overall system health, as the goby’s sifting activity often releases trapped organic material into the water column.
- Routine: Regular 10–20% water changes are vital. Use a good protein skimmer and mechanical filtration (like filter socks) to help clear the water of debris kicked up during sifting.
- Lid: A tight-fitting lid is absolutely essential.
Diet
- Type: Carnivore/Planktivore (Sand-sifter).
- Staples: Offer a high-quality diet consisting of frozen Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood.
- The “Starvation” Risk: This is the most common cause of mortality. They often thrive initially while “cleaning” a new tank, only to starve once the natural micro-fauna is depleted. Target feeding is mandatory. Do not expect them to survive solely on what they sift from the sand.
Behavior and Compatibility
- Tankmates: Peaceful toward other tank inhabitants. They are excellent community fish, provided they are not bullied by more aggressive, food-competitive fish.
- Avoid: Do not house with other sand-sifting gobies, as they will compete aggressively for the same food and territory.
- Reef Safety: Generally reef-safe, but be prepared for “sand-dusting.” As they sift, they often shower low-lying corals (like zoanthids, mushrooms, or Acropora frags) with sand, which can irritate sensitive polyps.
Reproduction
- They are known to form long-term monogamous pairs.
- Spawning occurs within their burrows.
- Captivity: As with other Valenciennea species, rearing the fry is extremely difficult due to the specialized nature of the planktonic larvae, which require dense concentrations of microscopic live foods.
Tips
- Sand Bed Essential: Do not purchase this fish if you cannot provide a deep, mature, fine-grained sand bed.
- Nutrition: Always prioritize daily target feeding.
- Rock Stability: Build your rock structures on the tank bottom to avoid “cave-ins.”
- Jump Risk: Secure your aquarium cover.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
