{"product_id":"tiger-watchman-goby-valenciennea-wardii-saltwater","title":"Tiger Watchman Goby (Valenciennea wardii)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E0F7FA;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTiger Watchman Goby\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eValenciennea wardii\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the sharpest-dressed sand sifters in the hobby: bold chocolate bands over a cream body, a black eyespot flying on the first dorsal fin, and neon blue accents across the cheek. Also called Ward's Sleeper Goby, it earns its keep by scooping mouthfuls of sand all day, sifting out food, and raining the cleaned sand back out through its gills, leaving a polished sand bed behind. A peaceful, hard-working showpiece for established tanks. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 55 gallons or larger with a generous footprint. Sand real estate is what this fish actually lives on.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablished sand bed required:\u003c\/strong\u003e at least 2 inches of fine sand in a mature tank. Sleeper gobies sift constantly, and an immature bed cannot feed one; this is the single most important requirement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTarget feeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e sand microfauna alone is rarely enough in home tanks. Offer meaty frozen foods like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-mysis-shrimp\"\u003emysis\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-brine-shrimp-plus\"\u003eenriched brine\u003c\/a\u003e 2 to 3 times daily, delivered near its patch of sand so it wins the race.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.020 to 1.026, pH 8.1 to 8.4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTight lid, no exceptions:\u003c\/strong\u003e sleeper gobies are famous carpet surfers, and a startled Tiger will find any gap.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReef note:\u003c\/strong\u003e fully reef safe with corals, though its sand plumes can dust low-mounted frags. Keep LPS off the sand line or angle flow to clear it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eValenciennea wardii\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eTiger Watchman Goby, Ward's Sleeper Goby, Tiger Sleeper Goby\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate, feeding attention required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e55 gallons with mature sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.020 to 1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCarnivore, sand sifter, target feed frozen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eWestern Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful with virtually everything except its own kind; keep one per tank unless you land a mated pair. It ignores corals, shrimp, and fish, and asks only that nobody else claim its stretch of sand, so avoid stacking multiple sand-sifting sleepers in modest tanks. Note that despite the \"watchman\" name it does not pair with pistol shrimp; that partnership belongs to shrimp gobies like the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/yellow-watchman-goby-cryptocentrus-cinctus-saltwater\"\u003eYellow Watchman Goby\u003c\/a\u003e. Comparing sand sifters? See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/diamond-watchman-goby\"\u003eDiamond Sleeper\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/white-sleeper-goby-valenciennea-sexguttata-saltwater\"\u003eWhite Sleeper\u003c\/a\u003e, or the tunnel-digging \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/engineer-goby-pholidichthys-leucotaenia-saltwater\"\u003eEngineer Goby\u003c\/a\u003e for a different kind of excavation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-mysis-shrimp\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Frozen Mysis Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e the target-feeding staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/piscine-energetics-pe-mysis\"\u003ePiscine Energetics PE Mysis\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-brine-shrimp-plus\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Frozen Brine Shrimp Plus\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it really clean my sand bed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, visibly. A working sleeper goby turns over the top layer constantly, keeping it bright and preventing algae film. The trade-off is occasional sand dust on nearby rocks and frags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do sleeper gobies starve in some tanks?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey burn energy sifting all day, and a young tank's sand holds little food. A mature sand bed plus deliberate target feeding 2 to 3 times a day keeps a Tiger thick and active for years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need a pistol shrimp?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Sleeper gobies dig their own burrows and live solo. The goby-and-pistol-shrimp partnership involves different species, like the Yellow Watchman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it aggressive toward other gobies?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly toward other sand-sifting sleepers competing for the same sand. Shrimp gobies, firefish, and blennies with different jobs are generally ignored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49049190367451,"sku":"Wardi","price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/93c49100-3bea-48b9-ad4e-f11cc48f04e7.jpg?v=1785453309","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/tiger-watchman-goby-valenciennea-wardii-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}