The Diamond Watchman Goby is also commonly referred to as the Pretty Prawn, Maiden, Orange Spotted Diamond, Orange-dashed, or Orangespotted Sleeper Goby. It was first discovered in the Indo-Pacific Ocean in 1956 by Tomiyama. The head and body are white with orange spots. It is a very timid fish that makes a great addition to the reef tank because of its longevity.
It should be housed in a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with live sand as the substrate, and an attached populated refugium. The Diamond Watchman Goby uses shallow burrows in the substrate as refuge, keeping the substrate well oxygenated. It rarely becomes aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair.
The Diamond Watchman Goby feeds off the bottom as it sifts through the sand. Its diet should include a variety of live and frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, and prepared foods for carnivores. It should be fed frequently.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Large: 3" to 4"; XLarge: 4" to 5"
Testimonial By:
Testimonial:
David C. Belmar, NJ
This fish is attractive and also very funny to watch. He will be active all day long, easy to keep, and keeps the sand stirred and clean better than any crab.....only problem I had was his mounds became very large and he began using my live crabs shells to keep it together... just watch if the shells he uses/buries have tenants in them.
This is a very busy fish. He is constantly moving piles of sand hither and yon. Can be shy at times, but rapidly adapts to aquarium life. Not a picky eater.
Great fish! I would recommend purchasing a Pistol Shrimp to go along with this fish. Both live in a burrow under my live rock. Once you see this relationship, you will know why this fish is called a "Watchman" Goby. He is not territorial, unless something gets too close to the Pistol Shrimp or the burrow. Good lighting with a wide spectrum will enhance his bluish spots. Will accept flake food, brine shrimp, and zooplankton.
The Watchman Diamond Goby is a very hyper fish. It digs into sand and under live rocks, cleans the aquarium decorations, builds tunnels, moves live sand to and from anywhere, etc. Very enjoyable fish that I recommend!
Great active addition to the aquarium. The only drawback is the amount of silt that is stirred up by him sifting of the live sand. I think this should reduce as it gets filtered out.
I adore this fish! He made a home under my bottom live rock, uses the sand to cover the hole before he goes to sleep (he slips in behind the rock somewhere) and digs himself out each morning. I love to watch him sift the sand thru his gills. He eats mysis shrimp, and other fish foods. Great fish to get!
Fantastic fish to watch, very entertaining and peaceful in the aquarium, always active scooting around the rocks to feed from the water column and what he finds in the sand bed, recommend this fish to anyone!
I love this fish! He is extremely fun to watch building his house out of sand. Also has completely cleaned my sandbed to a pure white within a few days. Only concern is that they are jumpers. I lost two through very small openings in my cover. Make sure every opening is covered.
This guy is amazing. Striking colors and personality. I recommend one for sand sifting for live sand or crushed coral sand, (I have a mix). Get one now!
Just as everyone has said. Mine improved my sand bed to the point where the red slime disappeared. Eats from the sand bed and all other foods moving thur the water. Loves to make caves and to change the tanks bottomscape.
Best fish ever! My sand bed was brown and dirty looking. Then I bought one of these guys and within a week it was as clean as it was brand new. They are great for a Fish only tank. Because my trigger and my wrasse eat any crustation that venture out on to the sand. They do not bother this guy! I highly recommend one.
