Goby - Diamond (Large)

diamond goby, also known as the Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris), requires creating an appropriate environment and providing proper care to ensure its health and well-being. Here are some care guidelines for keeping a diamond goby:

Aquarium Setup:

1. Tank Size: A 30-gallon tank or larger is recommended for a single diamond goby. These gobies are burrowing fish, so they need ample sandbed space.

2. Substrate: Provide a deep sandbed of fine sand or crushed coral. This substrate allows the goby to burrow and create its tunnels.

3. Live Rock: Incorporate live rock into the aquarium setup to provide hiding spots and a natural environment. The goby may also sift through the sand around the live rock in search of food.

4. Water Quality: Maintain stable water parameters including temperature (75-82°F or 24-28°C), salinity (1.020-1.025 specific gravity), pH (8.1-8.4), ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels at near zero.

5. Filtration: Use a quality protein skimmer and an efficient filtration system to maintain good water quality.

Feeding:

1. Diet: Diamond gobies are primarily sand sifters, feeding on tiny organisms and detritus found in the sandbed. Provide a varied diet including high-quality marine pellets, frozen foods like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and copepods.

2. Feeding Behavior: The goby will sift through the sand using its mouth to filter out food particles. Be sure to offer a diet that encourages this natural behavior.

Behavior:

1. Burrowing: Diamond gobies are known for their burrowing behavior. They create intricate tunnels in the sandbed, which helps with filtration and oxygen exchange.

2. Territorial: Gobies can be territorial towards their own kind or similar species. It's usually best to keep only one diamond goby per tank, unless you have a very large aquarium.

Compatibility:

1. Tankmates: Select peaceful tankmates that won't compete with the goby for food or disturb its burrows. Avoid aggressive fish or those that may prey on smaller gobies.

Maintenance:

1. Regular Water Changes: Perform regular water changes to maintain water quality and remove excess nutrients.

2. Substrate Maintenance: Avoid using strong water currents that can disturb the sandbed and collapse the goby's burrows.

3. Observation: Regularly observe the goby for signs of disease, stress, or abnormal behavior.