Diamond (Sleeper) Goby – Valenciennea puellaris

About this fish

Diamond (Sleeper) Goby – Valenciennea puellaris is a saltwater goby that spends much of its time working through the sand on the aquarium bottom. In practice, this makes it a helpful, peaceful addition to a well-established tank with a suitable sand bed, where it can graze on edible particles and benefit from stable conditions. The scientific name Valenciennea puellaris is verified in the product title, and the care guidance below is general for this sleeper-goby group.

Features:

• Sand-sifting behavior helps keep the substrate active and provides natural foraging time
• Generally peaceful with tankmates, making it a common choice for community reef-style aquariums
• Typically settles into hiding/burrowing behavior in sand, which you can support with the right substrate
• Best maintained in a mature system so the sand and micro-life are more established for grazing
• Provide a varied diet beyond grazing to support long-term health
• Offers more natural activity when paired with adequate oxygenation and stable water quality

Specifications:

• Scientific name: Valenciennea puellaris
• Care level: Moderate (needs established tank conditions and appropriate sandy substrate for normal behavior)
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Diet (general guidance): Omnivore; benefits from foods sized for a small bottom-feeder plus ongoing sand grazing
• Tank setup: Sandy substrate recommended to support burrowing/sifting behavior
• Temperature (general guidance): About 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• Salinity (general guidance): Marine range, typically around 1.020–1.025 specific gravity
• Lighting / water flow: No special lighting requirement; moderate, well-oxygenated water flow supports overall health