Striped Sleeper Goby (Valencienna longipinnis)
Also Known As: Long-Finned Sleeper Goby, Teardrop Sleeper Goby
Compatibility and Behavior
The Striped Sleeper Goby (Valenciennea longipinnis) is one of the more elegant sand-sifters in the group. A pale white to light grey body is marked with fine horizontal brown stripes delicately trimmed in blue and orange along the flanks, and its noticeably elongated dorsal and anal fins give it a flowing, long-finned silhouette as it glides over the sand. Looks aside, it earns its keep as a substrate janitor, spending its day near the bottom taking in mouthfuls of sand and expelling clean grains through its gills while it sorts out small inverts and organic material, which keeps the upper sand layer bright and aerated. It's generally peaceful and reef safe, making it a versatile alternative to the more common sand-sifting Diamond Goby.
Aquarium Requirements
The sand bed leads the list, as with all the sleeper gobies. It wants a mature tank of around 30 gallons or larger with a deep bed of fine to medium-grain sand at least 2 to 3 inches thick, ideally sugar-sized aragonite rather than coarse gravel or sharp crushed coral, since the substrate has to pass safely through its gills. Give it open sand flats to forage over plus caves, cracks, and crevices for shelter. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid or mesh screen is essential, as Striped Sleepers are well-known jumpers, particularly when startled or newly introduced. Offer frozen mysis, enriched brine, finely chopped seafood, live blackworms, and quality sinking pellets.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 1.5–2.5"
Diet: Carnivore and omnivore; sifts sand for microfauna and detritus, supplemented with frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, live blackworms, and quality sinking 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 constant sifting, with rockwork seated on the glass bottom, since it rearranges the substrate; sand it sifts can settle on low-placed corals or clam mantles, so keep sensitive pieces elevated; sand alone rarely sustains it in clean systems, so plan on frequent target-feeding; a well-known jumper that needs a gap-free lid; may be territorial toward other sleeper gobies, so best kept singly
Pairs well with
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.