Sand-sifting Goby

About

Found across a broad sweep of the Western Pacific, this sand-dwelling goby, Amblygobius rainfordi, ranges from Australia to Tonga and north through the Philippines and Taiwan, turning up on sandy and muddy reef flats down to about 65 feet. Unlike many of its burrowing cousins, this species does not appear to dig or maintain a burrow, which is a bit unusual for the group. Instead it picks through the substrate in areas with at least some coral growth nearby, often seen singly or in loose small clusters. In the aquarium, that behavior translates into a fish that appreciates a deep sand bed and enough open sandy floor to patrol throughout the day. The diet needs some attention. This goby feeds on small organisms sifted from the sediment, so a refugium-fed tank or regular offerings of appropriately sized frozen and prepared foods will keep it in good shape. A tank with an established, mature sandbed is a real asset here. It is not a boisterous fish and does best alongside peaceful tankmates that won't compete aggressively for food or territory. For a keeper with some reef experience who can meet its dietary and substrate needs, this is a rewarding and relatively long-lived species.