Valencienna wardii?

[SDguy]

I am thinking of getting a pair of Valencienna wardii now that my reef has sand. I had a couple questions:

1. How does one pair them?
2. How much sand/burrow do they need (just hiding under the rocks? or like a blue spot jawfish burrow?)
3. Is feeding an issue. I recall from my LFS days that golden headed sleepers were notorious for eating well, or never eating.
4. They seem to sit more like gobies than swim around like golden headed sleepers. Is this an accurate observation?

And other comments/tips? TIA.

 

[jlanger]

The V. wardii are a great fish. Often overlooked by the diamond sleeper, but I think they're an easier fish to keep. And I think a more attractive fish.

Our goby (who just tried to carpet surf Saturday morning and failed) was a great sand sifter. Once in a while he would crop dust the polyps, but that was fine with me since he kept our sand nice and white.

They will dig a burrow underneath the rock and hang out there at night. Make sure your structure is well supported as they do move a lot of sand. Ours had two burrows and he would switch between the two.

Our goby never had a problem feeding. We feed cyclopeeze, mysis shrimp and other frozen/gel foods. The gel food (Omnivore Diet) by Instant Ocean was his favorite. Never had a problem with looking thin.

They don't swim very much up in the water column. They glide around just above the sand. As much of its time was spent sifting the sand.

We're planning on getting another one someday, and a pair would be very cool. Diver's Den has had pairs for sale in the past. Go to their website and you can request what you'd like to see them get in stock and hope you're the lucky one to get them.

-JASON

 

[SDguy]

Thank you for all the information. How was the fish around your other fish? Aggressive, easily spooked, neither?

 

[jlanger]

The V. wardii goby never really bothered anybody. No aggression towards a tail spot blenny, a six-line wrasse, a yellow tang or our pair of A. percula.
It would, however, grab any snails or crabs that tried to get into his burrow and deposit them on the other end of the aquarium. No harm done, just tossing them out on their shells.
Even when we added a 'pair' of Randall's gobies about a month ago, it never showed any ill behaviors towards them. The V. wardii had his burrows in the back half of the tank, and the A. randalli have their burrows up front. Even during his sand sifting duties, the gobies never showed any aggression or territoriality.

Hope this helps.

-JASON

 

[SDguy]

Thanks for all the info!

Anyone have any pointers on pairing?