Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Blue Cheek Goby
Valenciennea strigata
Also called Blueband goby, Golden-head sleeper goby, Golden headed sleeper goby, Blueband glider goby, Pennant glider
From Indo-Pacific, from East Africa east to the Tuamotu Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Sydney, Australia; clear outer lagoons and seaward reefs over sand, rubble and hard bottoms, usually 1 to 6 m (to 25 m)12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Elongated sleeper goby
A long, pale goby with a pearly white body and a bright golden-yellow head. As its names blueband and blue cheek goby suggest, a blue band marks the cheek.32
Personality what they are like
Peaceful toward most fish, but it may claim territory against other gobies, blennies or dartfish in smaller tanks.3
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Spends the day hovering near its burrow and repeatedly taking mouthfuls of sand to filter out food.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Rated easy care. It is a known jumper, so fit a tight lid. Its constant sifting keeps the sand bed turned over; it does best in an established tank with a lively sand bed.3
Home where they are happiest
A marine aquarium of at least about 115 litres (30 US gallons) with a deep sand bed and rubble or rock to dig under, and a secure lid. Reef safe.32
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Sifts the sand for small bottom-living invertebrates, small fish and fish eggs in the wild. In tanks feed frozen or live mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp once or twice a day.13
Company who they like around
Lives in monogamous pairs in the wild, and both partners stay close to each other. Keep singly or as a mated pair.12
The story where it all began
Described by Broussonet in 1782, it is the type species of the genus Valenciennea. It is a long-standing reef aquarium fish, kept for its colours and its sand-sifting habits.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its burrow usually has two entrances, but the pair keeps one sealed with rubble, sand and algae.2
- 2
Both members of a pair guard each other to keep their partnership exclusive.1
- 3
It feeds by taking in mouthfuls of sand and filtering out tiny animals through its gills, which keeps the sand bed turned over.3
- 4
It is the type species for its whole genus, meaning the genus Valenciennea is defined around it.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 20 June 2017)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Broussonet in 1782; type species of the genus Valenciennea2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Blue Cheek Goby. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Valenciennea strigata fishbase.seused for range, size, depth, diet, monogamy, IUCN
- Wikipedia: Valenciennea strigata en.wikipedia.orgused for names, describer, burrows, type species, habitat
- Saltwaterfish.com: Golden Headed Sleeper Goby saltwaterfish.comused for aquarium care, tank size, appearance, diet, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.