Blueband goby

1) Where they come from

Blueband gobies (Valenciennea strigata) are sand-sifters from Indo-Pacific reef flats and lagoons. They hang out in shallow areas where the bottom is all sand and rubble, constantly taking mouthfuls of sand and spitting it out to pick out tiny critters.

That lifestyle explains basically everything about keeping them: they want sand, they want to dig, and they’ll redecorate your aquascape like it’s their job.

2) Setting up their tank

Give this fish a real sandbed. I’ve had the best luck with a tank that has a wide footprint and at least a couple inches of sand so they can sift and build a burrow under a rock edge.

• Tank size: 30+ gallons works, but bigger footprints feel noticeably easier (40 breeder and up is comfy).
• Sand: fine to medium aragonite is ideal; super sharp/crushed coral makes their constant sifting rough on them.
• Rockwork: place rocks on the glass or on supports, then add sand around it—otherwise they can dig under rocks and cause a collapse.
• Flow: moderate is fine; they’ll still sift. Too much sandstorm flow just annoys everyone.
• Cover: use a lid or mesh top. They jump, especially after a scare or during new-tank stress.

A more mature tank helps. They’re famous for slowly starving in sterile setups because they spend all day hunting microfauna in the sand. You can keep them in newer tanks, but you’ll be feeding heavier and watching weight closely.

3) What to feed them

In my tanks, the winning combo has been: frequent small meaty foods + making sure they actually eat it (not just sift sand all day). They can be picky at first, and they burn calories constantly.

• Staples: thawed mysis, brine (better as a treat), finely chopped shrimp/clam, and quality marine pellets once they take them.
• Best “get weight on” foods: enriched mysis and small frozen blends meant for reef fish.
• Feeding schedule: 2–3 small feedings/day is way better than one big dump.
• Targeting: use a turkey baster or pipette to puff food right in front of them while they’re out sifting.

If you run a super-clean, low-nutrient reef, you may need to deliberately feed more than you’re used to. Just plan your filtration around it (skimmer, export, reasonable stocking).

4) Behavior and tankmates

They’re peaceful, busy little bulldozers. Most of the day is: grab sand, sift, spit, repeat. They’ll also make a burrow and may disappear for stretches, especially after you add them or if something spooks them.

• Good tankmates: most peaceful community reef fish (clowns, cardinals, chromis, smaller wrasses, blennies).
• Be careful with: aggressive dottybacks, big hawkfish, or anything that likes to claim the bottom and harass.
• Other sand-sifters: competing Valenciennea gobies often turns into stress or one slowly losing weight.
• Inverts: generally fine, but tiny ornamental shrimp can get bullied if the goby decides the burrow is “theirs.”

They also rearrange the substrate around rock bases. If you’ve got low-sitting corals or a rock shelf that relies on sand support, plan for it to change.

5) Breeding tips (if you want to try)

They can spawn in captivity, usually in a bonded pair with a secure burrow. The challenge isn’t getting eggs—it’s raising the larvae. The babies are tiny and need live planktonic foods, so this is more “project tank” territory.

• Pairing: best shot is introducing two juveniles and letting them sort it out (adult pairing can be hit-or-miss).
• Spawning setup: stable tank, deepish sand, lots of caves/overhangs, and a predictable feeding routine.
• If you see spawning: eggs are typically guarded in the burrow; lights-out hatches can happen and larvae go pelagic quickly.
• Raising larvae: you’ll be looking at rotifers/copepod nauplii and a dedicated rearing setup—don’t expect it to work by accident in a display.

6) Common problems to watch for

• Slow starvation: the big one. They look “busy” all day, but that doesn’t mean they’re getting enough calories.
• Jumping: especially early on, after a bully encounter, or after big maintenance.
• Sandstorms and coral irritation: they’ll bury frags and dust corals if placement isn’t thought out.
• Rockwork collapses: caused by digging under rocks sitting on sand.
• Shipping/collection stress: many arrive thin; quarantine and patient feeding helps a lot.

If you set the tank up for their digging, keep a lid on, and feed like you mean it, they’re seriously rewarding fish. Watching them work the sandbed is one of those “reef tank is alive” moments that never really gets old.