Moderate

Diamond Goby

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Valenciennea puellaris

Complete Diamond Goby care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 40 Gallons tank setup, and compatible saltwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Diamond Goby

Quick Answer

Diamond Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) is a sand-sifting goby that constantly sifts sand through its gills, keeping the substrate clean and aerated.. It requires a minimum 40 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 8.1 - 8.4 and temperature range of 24-26°C. This carnivore occupies the bottom zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Diamond Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) is a sand-sifting goby that constantly sifts sand through its gills, keeping the substrate clean and aerated.

Setup

A 40-gallon or larger tank with a fine sand bed (2+ inches) and a tight lid. Live rock and open sand areas. Moderate water flow.

Feeding

Carnivorous; eats meaty foods: mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and small pellets. Must have a sandy substrate to forage.

Compatibility

Peaceful but may jump when startled. Keep singly or as a mated pair. Good with most reef-safe fish. Avoid aggressive bottom-dwellers.

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Tank Position
Bottom
Water Temp
24-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
8.1 - 8.4

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

Coral Beauty Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity Flame Angelfish Care Guide: Reef Compatibility semanticSimilarity Foxface Rabbitfish Care Guide: Reef Tank & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Diamond Gobies should be kept together?
Keep only one per tank unless you have a verified mated pair in a tank of at least 55 gallons (208 liters) with a footprint of 48x18 inches (120x45 cm). Diamond gobies (Valenciennea puellaris) are highly territorial over their burrowing sand zones. Two males or unbonded individuals fight to severe injury, including torn jaws and eyes. A single adult requires a minimum of 40 gallons (150 liters) with a deep sand bed (3-4 inches/7.5-10 cm). Provide open sand areas (50% of tank bottom) and live rock structures. Avoid with aggressive sand-sifting fish (sand sifting sea stars).
What are the exact marine water parameters for Diamond Gobies?
Target pH 8.1 - 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 - 1.025 (35-35.5 ppt), General Hardness 7 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 8 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 32,000 - 35,000 ppm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). They require fine live sand substrate (0.5-1 mm grain) to sift through gills. Maintain nitrates below 10 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a protein skimmer and refugium. Stable salinity is critical; fluctuations >0.002 cause stress. Provide moderate water flow (10x turnover). Ammonia must be 0 ppm; they are sensitive to organic waste.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Diamond Gobies?
They are micro-fauna carnivores requiring 60% protein, 15% fat, 25% algae. Supplement their sand-sifting diet with frequent feedings of frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp (enriched), and sinking marine pellets 2-3 times daily. They will starve without supplemental feeding, even in established tanks. Offer chopped krill and cyclops. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.15 mg/L Cupramine) but sensitive to hyposalinity below 1.018. Praziquantel is safe for flukes. Quarantine with chloroquine phosphate (15 mg/L) for 14 days. Avoid formalin.
How to breed Diamond Gobies in captivity?
Breeding is rare but possible with a bonded pair in a 75+ gallon tank. Condition with frozen mysis and brine shrimp for 3 weeks. They are burrow spawners; the pair excavates a cave under live rock. Spawning occurs in the burrow; female lays 100-500 adhesive eggs. Male guards and fans eggs for 5-7 days at 75°F (24°C). Eggs hatch; larvae are pelagic and require rotifers and phytoplankton for 30-40 days. Metamorphosis occurs at 1 inch (2.5 cm). Larval rearing is extremely difficult; not recommended for hobbyists.

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