Tiger Watchman Goby (Valenciennea wardii)
Also Known As: Tiger Shrimp Goby, Ward's Goby, Tiger Sleeper Goby
Compatibility and Behavior
The Tiger Watchman Goby (Valenciennea wardii) is one of the boldest-patterned sand-sifters in the family. A creamy white body is marked with wide brown "tiger" stripes and a distinctive dark eyespot on the front of the dorsal fin, often framed by a fine white ring. It's a true workhorse: taking in mouthfuls of sand and expelling clean grains through its gills while it hunts tiny crustaceans and organic matter, keeping the upper substrate bright and aerated. It's generally peaceful and reef safe, and some individuals will strike up a burrow-sharing partnership with a pistol shrimp (particularly the Tiger Pistol Shrimp), though this pairing isn't required for it to do well.
Aquarium Requirements
The sand bed is the centerpiece here. Give it a mature tank of around 30 to 55 gallons or larger with a deep, fine-grained bed at least 2 to 3 inches thick to support its sifting and occasional shallow burrowing, and use sugar-sized aragonite rather than coarse gravel or crushed coral, since the substrate has to pass safely through its gills. Provide open sand flats to forage over plus caves, overhangs, and rubble piles to retreat into when startled. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen is essential, as these are well-known jumpers, especially during acclimation or when spooked. Offer frozen mysis, enriched brine, copepods, finely chopped seafood, and quality sinking carnivore pellets.
Specifications
Approximate Size: Sm/Md: 1.5–2.25", Lg: 2.5–3"
Diet: Carnivore; sifts sand for small crustaceans and detritus, supplemented with frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood, and quality sinking carnivore pellets
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Special Considerations: Needs a deep, fine "sugar-sized" sand bed of at least 2–3 inches for its sifting; requires a tight-fitting lid as it's a known jumper.
Pairs well with
Tiger Watchman Goby (Valenciennea wardii)
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Shipping Information
- Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday. Orders will be shipped overnight on the soonest possible shipping day, unless you request to hold the order for up to one business day.
- Your order will ship same-day if placed before 12:30 PM PST on a shipping day.
- Orders placed after 12:30 PM PST will ship on the next shipping day.
- Stay tuned to our Announcement Bar (black bar at the top of every page) for important shipping announcements...we may reach our max limit of orders we can ship on Mondays.
- If it is very hot, very cold, or if you live in a rural area, ship to a UPS Access Point to save your livestock from hours of exposure to the elements. Click here to see how.
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FAQ’s
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if UPS is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a UPS Access Point, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.
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Contact Us
Send us an email at sales@reefbeauties.com and we will get back to you shortly.
We do not offer phone calls. We handle our inquiries with timely emails to ensure a qualified and high-quality response, to have all conversations on record, and to avoid miscommunications that can occur over the phone.
Free shipping on orders over $199!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if FedEx is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a FedEx Ship Center, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.