Yellow Head Sleeper Goby (Valenciennea strigata)

Max Size: 6 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

The Sleeper Gold Head Goby, known by various names such as Pennant Glider, Yellowheaded or Golden Head Sleeper, or Blueband, Bluestreak, or Yellowheaded Sleeper Goby, showcases a yellow-gold head with a sapphire-blue stripe below the eyes. The remainder of its body appears off-white in coloration.

For successful care, the Sleeper Gold Head Goby should be housed in an aquarium with a capacity of at least 30 gallons or larger. The substrate should consist of live sand, and it is beneficial to have an attached, well-populated refugium. Providing a well-sealed canopy is important as well. While it generally maintains a non-aggressive nature towards other fish, it can exhibit territorial behavior and engage in fights with its own kind, unless they form a mated pair.

Feeding primarily off the bottom as it sifts through the sand, the Sleeper Gold Head Goby consumes mouthfuls of substrate along with the organisms residing within it, contributing to the oxygenation of the substrate. Its diet should consist of a variety of live and frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, and prepared foods suitable for carnivores. Regular and frequent feeding is necessary to meet its nutritional needs.