Golden Head Sleeper Goby

The Blue Cheek Goby is one of the most popular and recognizable sand-sifting gobies in the marine aquarium hobby. It features a distinctive golden-yellow head that transitions to a white to silvery body, with a vivid electric-blue streak running along each cheek from the eye toward the gill cover. This striking color combination, along with its relatively large size of up to 7 inches, makes it a standout species in any reef display.

As a member of the Valenciennea genus, the Blue Cheek Goby is an industrious sand-sifter that spends its days scooping mouthfuls of substrate, filtering out tiny invertebrates and detritus, and expelling clean sand through its gills. This behavior provides a valuable maintenance function by keeping the sand bed turned over, aerated, and free of accumulated waste. The goby also excavates a burrow for shelter, often beneath rockwork or along the base of the aquarium.

This species requires a well-established aquarium of at least 55 gallons with a mature, biologically active sand bed. In newly set up or sterile sand beds, the goby may struggle to find sufficient natural food and can lose condition. Supplemental feeding with frozen mysis shrimp and enriched brine shrimp targeted to the substrate is important. A secure lid is absolutely essential, as the Blue Cheek Goby is one of the most persistent jumpers in the hobby.