Wide-barred Sleeper Goby – Valenciennea wardii – Medium

The Wide-barred Sleeper Goby (Valenciennea wardii, also known as the Tiger Sleeper Goby) is off-white with wide, brown bands, and a black spot on the dorsal. A blue streak decorates each cheek.

This fish is best known as part of the group of gobies known as sandsifter or sleeper gobies. They take mouthfuls of the substrate and sift it out through their gills, searching for food. This can help keep the substrate aerated, and may help prevent the build-up of organic debris that leads to high nitrate levels, algae, and cyanobacteria (\