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Sleeper Blue Dot Goby – Complete Care Guide

    The Sleeper Blue Dot Goby (Valenciennea sexguttata) is a large sand-sifting species of goby that is often kept in saltwater aquariums. This goby is predominantly white, with small blue dots around its face and gills. Blue Dot Gobies will grow to about 5.5″ inches when fully grown. These heavy-duty excavators are fantastic at helping you get a nice clean sand bed.This article will cover the aquarium requirements, dietary needs, tank mate suggestions, and more for the Blue Spotted Goby.

    Aquarium Requirements

    Due to its size, Blue Dot Sleeper Gobies could be kept in aquariums that are 30 gallons or larger. However, I recommend keeping them in something even bigger. I suggest choosing a smaller species of goby for a 30-gallon fish tank. My top picks are Yellow Watchman, Two Spot, or Yasha White Ray Gobies. These species don’t grow as large as the Blue Dot Goby, so their food requirements will not be as demanding.

    Sand sifting gobies, sift through sand in search of micro-organisms like copepods. Many gobies will likely consume processed fish food, but there may be some that are incredibly picky. Regardless of aquarium size, it is recommended to set up a refugium, which will be a great place for copepods to grow, reproduce, and supplement the aquarium with live foods. Sumps are great places for refugium, but for smaller saltwater aquariums, many people convert a Hang-On Back Filter into a refuge. A Hang-On refugium can also be purchased, such as the CPR Aquatic Tank Refugium.

    Sleeper Gobies can jump, like many other goby species. Anything can spook them and cause them to dart up and out of the aquarium. I recommend providing a well-fitted lid on your fish tank to avoid this.

    Rock & Sand

    The Blue Dot Sleeper Goby will need live sand, like Carib Sea Fiji Pink. In my opinion, this is one of the better sands because it is not too fine and not too coarse. You’ll want to avoid crushed coral sand or sand that is incredibly fine. Crushed coral sand will be a little too coarse, and the goby will not be able to sift through it. Sand that is incredibly fine will constantly be stirred up and may get all over your aquarium.

    I recommend using live rock for your saltwater aquarium as well. Blue Dot Gobies will create their burrows in the sand bed along the rockwork. Live rock is also beneficial for your reef tank because it provides quite a bit of surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.

    Water Parameters

    Keeping stable water parameters is very important in keeping your fish, coral, and whole aquarium system in check. Most saltwater fish will have the same water parameter requirements. The following water parameter ranges are what the Blue Dot Sleeper Goby does best with.

    • Water Temperature: 72°-78° F
    • dKH: 8 – 12
    • pH: 8.1 – 8.4
    • Salinity: 1.020 – 1.025 sg

    Consider getting a High Range pH and KH test kit to test for pH & dKH. Keeping your temperature between 72° and 78° can be accomplished with a heater. Take a look at my guide which showcases some great aquarium heaters. Lastly, I would pick up a Refractometer from Amazon to keep an eye on your salinity levels. If calibrated correctly, refractometers are much more accurate compared to a hydrometer which loses accuracy due to salt buildup on the dial. Check out Different Salinity Reading Tools For Saltwater Fish Tanks to get an idea of other salinity testing devices available.

    Is the Blue Dot Sleeper Goby Reef Safe?

    Yes, the Blue Dot Sleeper Goby is reef safe. It should not bother any coral or invertebrate in your aquarium. However, if you keep clams and other coral in your sand bed, the Sleeper Goby may accidently bury parts or all of them, when it is sifting for food.

    Food & Diet

    This fish species is carnivorous. They will spend most of their time sifting through the sand bed looking for microorganisms. Many individual fish in this species will readily consume Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and protein-rich pellet food, but there may be some picky ones. Your system needs to be large enough and established enough to be home to many different microorganisms found in the sand. As stated above, a refugium with macroalgae and live rock is an excellent nursery for these microorganisms.

    Tank Mates

    Blue Dot Gobies are generally peaceful and should keep to their territory. They should not really bother any other fish, besides other gobies and jawfish that may encroach on their territory. This fish species should do well with most other peaceful marine fish. They’re great to keep with Anthias, Basslets, Blennies, Butterflies, Chromis, Clownfish, Dwarf Angels, Foxfaces, Tangs, Wrasses, and much more. Avoid keeping them with aggressive fish, and fish that can easily swallow the Blue Dot Goby.

    It is possible to keep a pair of Blue Dot Sleeper Gobies in an appropriately sized aquarium together. Unfortunately, I do not have information on how to sex this fish.

    diamond goby vs sleeper blue dot goby fish

    Is a Citron Goby and Sleeper Blue Dot Goby Compatible?

    The Citron Goby and Sleeper Goby should generally be good tank mates. The Citron Goby does not spend time in the sand bed but instead is a rock-dwelling species of fish. On the other hand, the Blue Dot Goby spends most of its day sifting through the sand bed. The two fish should rarely interact with one another.

    Breeding

    I do not have any other breeding information to provide for this species.

    Final Notes

    Blue Dot Sleeper Gobies are powerhouses in regards to keeping a good portion of your sand bed clean. Their incredibly large mouths will churn through sand in search of food. Although they are not the most vibrant species of fish, their white colorations and gentle blue spots still make them fantastic options for a reef tank. If you are not convinced in keeping the Blue Dot Goby, you’re welcome to check out many other goby species.