Golden Head Sleeper - Sleeper Gold Head Goby - Valenciennea strigata - Yellowheaded Sleeper - Blueband Goby

The Golden Head Sleeper is known by many names including the Pennant Glider, Yellowheaded or Blueband, Bluestreak Goby. Its head is yellow-gold with a sapphire-blue stripe below the eyes, and the rest of the body is off-white. One of the most popular Sleeper Gobies kept in captivity, the Gold Head Sleeper Goby is quite amazing. With its pale metallic hue and its interesting habits, this fish can make a beautiful addition to many aquariums.

The Gold Head Sleeper Goby is considered reef safe and is also a nice addition to communities of peaceful fish. They have been known to jump from their aquariums, so it is a good idea to keep a lid on their enclosures. When provided with a thick layer of substrate, the Gold Head Sleeper Goby will often burrow. This natural behavior should be encouraged with the use of loose substrates that are neither too fine, too heavy or sharp-edged.

In the wild, Gold Head Sleeper Gobies are often noted in pairs near the mouths of their burrows. These Gobies eat small organisms, fish eggs, and fish, which they are able to sift from mouthfuls of sand. They will scoop up mouthfuls of sand and sift it through their gills. They are most commonly found in sand or rubble flats in clear lagoons or seaward reefs. At maturity, Gold Head Sleeper Gobies measure up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in length. Their bodies are whitish silver and their fins are nearly transparent. The head of the Gold Head Sleeper Goby is, as the name implies, a metallic gold or yellow.

The Gold Head Sleeper Goby can actually be quite a hard worker and will keep the sand well sifted and clean. It takes large mouthfuls of sand and sifts through it eating small invertebrates and expelling the cleaned sand out of its gills. This goby likes to work together in pairs. One alone usually gets lonely and groups will often fight, unless introduced to a large aquarium. They are rarely aggressive towards other fish, except

other sleeper gobies, such as the Orangespot Diamond Goby. They will do best in a reef aquarium with passive fishes.

Size: At maturity, Gold Head Sleeper Gobies measure up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in length

Tank Condition: To be successfully cared for, Golden Head Sleeper should be housed in a 50 gallon or larger aquarium with live sand as the substrate, and an attached populated refugium. A well-sealed canopy should be provided. It rarely will become aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair.

For a single Gold Head Sleeper Goby, a covered aquarium of about 30 gallons is be appropriate. Most Gold Head Sleeper Gobies will thrive in temperatures between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius) with a pH value of 8.3 or 8.4. The specific gravity should remain between 1.020 and 1.025. In a fish-only aquarium, 1.020 to 1.023 is the most acceptable range. However, in an aquarium with invertebrates, the specific gravity should measure between 1.023 and 1.025 for the health of those animals. A thick layer of substrate and plenty of hiding places should be provided. Gold Head Sleeper Gobies normally get along well with other peaceful fish and invertebrates. They may not tolerate members of their own species.

Habitat: Gold Head Sleeper Gobies are found in Indo Pacific regions and from eastern Africa through the Tuamoto Islands. They are one of the more commonly seen Sleeper Gobies in the pet trade.

Feeding and Diet: The Gold Head Sleeper Goby feeds nearly continuously and this regime should be simulated in captivity by providing a substrate of a size that allows this fish to sift it for food. A diet of small protein items should be offered to Gold Head Sleeper Gobies.

Breeding: Though it is said that Gold Head Sleeper Gobies have been bred in captivity, no detailed information is available. Because of the difficulty involved in the captive breeding of these fish, the majority of specimens in the pet trade are wild caught.

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