Orange Spotted Goby ( 7 days to delivery )

About this fish

What is its maximum size?
The Orange Spotted Goby can grow to approximately 14–15 cm (5.5–6 inches) in length.
It is an attractive, active sand-sifting goby, recognised by its pale white body, rows of bright orange spots and distinctive blue facial markings.
One of its most interesting characteristics is its constant sand-sifting behaviour. It takes mouthfuls of sand, extracts small organisms and organic food particles, and releases the cleaned sand through its gills.
Where is its origin and where is it exported from?The Orange Spotted Goby originates from the tropical Indo-Pacific region.
Its natural distribution includes:
Red Sea.
East Africa.
Indonesia.
Philippines.
Sri Lanka.
Maldives.
Fiji.
Samoa.
Great Barrier Reef.
Southern Japan.
It inhabits sandy areas of coral lagoons and seaward reef environments, where it creates shallow burrows for shelter.
It is commonly exported for the marine aquarium trade from countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji and other Indo-Pacific locations. 


Is it reef compatible?Reef safe
The Orange Spotted Goby is generally considered reef safe and is an excellent addition to established reef aquariums.
It does not normally nip at corals or deliberately damage ornamental invertebrates.
Potential compatibility includes:
LPS corals: Generally safe.
SPS corals: Generally safe.
Soft corals: Generally safe.
Zoanthids: Generally safe.
Clams: Generally safe.
Shrimps and ornamental invertebrates: Generally safe, although very small sand-dwelling organisms may be eaten.
One important consideration is its sand-sifting behaviour. It can release mouthfuls of sand over low-growing corals, potentially irritating or smothering delicate coral tissue.
Avoid placing delicate corals directly on the sand bed or close to its favourite sifting areas. 


What should I feed it?
The Orange Spotted Goby is a carnivore and micro-predator that naturally feeds by sifting sand for small crustaceans, worms and other edible organisms.
Recommended foods include:
Frozen mysis shrimp.
Enriched brine shrimp.
Copepods.
Calanus.
Finely chopped shrimp.
Finely chopped marine seafood.
Small sinking marine pellets.
Other suitable frozen meaty foods.
It is particularly important to provide regular supplementary feeding rather than relying entirely on the natural organisms within the sand bed.
Important: Many Orange Spotted Gobies gradually lose weight and starve in aquariums with insufficient natural food in the substrate. Target feeding two to three times daily is recommended, particularly in newer aquariums. 


How many can I keep?
The Orange Spotted Goby is best kept singly or as a compatible male and female pair.
Recommended arrangements include:
A single specimen.
A compatible bonded pair.
Avoid keeping multiple unrelated individuals in smaller aquariums.
In the wild, this species is often observed in pairs.
It can become territorial towards other sand-sifting gobies, particularly members of the same genus.
A compatible pair can share a burrow and display fascinating natural behaviour.
How compatible is it with other fish?
The Orange Spotted Goby is generally peaceful and suitable for established marine community and reef aquariums.
It usually coexists well with:
Clownfish.
Tangs.
Wrasses.
Anthias.
Cardinalfish.
Blennies.
Firefish.
Peaceful gobies.
Other reef-compatible community fish.
Avoid housing it with large predatory fish, aggressive wrasses or boisterous tankmates that may intimidate it or prevent it from feeding properly.
It is also advisable to avoid keeping it with other competing sand-sifting gobies.
Water parameters

Recommended range
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Specific gravity
1.023–1.026
Ammonia
0 ppm
Nitrite
0 ppm
Nitrate
Keep as low as practical
Stable water conditions, excellent filtration, adequate oxygenation and regular water changes are important for maintaining this species successfully. 


Aquarium Requirements
The Orange Spotted Goby is an active bottom-dwelling fish that requires a mature aquarium with a suitable sand bed and plenty of open substrate.
Recommended minimum volume: Approximately 200–300 litres, with larger aquariums preferable for long-term success.
Aquarium type: Reef or fish-only marine aquarium.
Aquascaping: Mature live rock with caves and sheltered areas.
Substrate: A deep bed of fine sand, ideally around 8–10 cm.
Swimming space: Generous open sandy areas for natural sifting behaviour.
Filtration: Efficient biological filtration and effective protein skimming.
Feeding: Several small, varied meaty meals daily.
Aquarium cover: A secure lid is strongly recommended because gobies can jump.