Bella Sleeper Goby – Philippines

Valenciennea bella

The Bella Sleeper Goby is admired for its vibrant colors and peaceful temperament, making it a wonderful addition to reef aquariums. Although generally harmonious, males can sometimes show territorial behavior towards other males, so it’s recommended to house a single male with several females for a balanced environment. This species is known for its distinctively beautiful body pattern, showcasing maroon, red and orange hues along its body, with elegant, elongated fins. Bella Gobies are skilled sand sifters, using their mouths to take in sand, filtering it for edible particles, and then releasing it, which helps keep the substrate clean and well aeriated. As carnivores, they thrive on a varied diet that includes small crustaceans, mysis shrimp, and finely chopped marine prepared foods. Regular feedings, at least twice daily, are ideal to ensure they stay healthy and maintain their bright colors. Growing up to 6 inches in length, the Bella Goby does well in aquariums of 30 gallons or larger, providing ample space for its active sifting behavior. In the wild, these gobies are found in sandy or rubble-bottom areas of the Indo-Pacific, where they form burrows and live in shallow lagoons or reef flats at depths of up to 100 feet.