True vs False… what’s the difference?

[i cant think]

I have a tiger stripe pink spotted diamond goby. Doesn't touch the sand and just hides all day until feeding time. Really boring

That’s due to you having a Cryptocentrus leptocephalus. This is part of the same genus as the Yellow Watchman Goby, Cryptocentrus cinctus. For the most part these guys have the role of “Guard Watch” in the wild. In captivity if paired with a pistol shrimp they often do the same thing however if they aren’t paired with a Pistol Shrimp, they’ll often just stay closer to the rock instead of further out.

 

[cleaner_shrimp]

One thing I find interesting is how people label many gobies under the term “Sandsifting” now I absolutely adore gobies. For those of you who have seen my build threads you’ll know I have now got 7 gobies. Two of those are often put under the term “Sandsifters”.

So, my plan in this thread is to try “show” the difference between a True Sandsifting Goby and a False Sandsifting goby is. So, let’s start with what is a “False Sandsifting Goby”.

Well, some gobies that are out under the term “Sandsifters” don’t actually sift the sand. These are often from the genera Amblyeleotris, Stonogobiops, and Cryptocentrus. The biggest one I hear go under the term Sandsifter is Cryptocentrus cintus or the Yellow Watchman Goby.
Below is my new pairing, of Alpheus bellulus and Cryptocentus cinctus.

I think the main reason for this is due to how when paired with a pistol shrimp from the genus Alpheus, they seem to help out by moving the sand out of their den. These are merely moving it and in most cases they don’t actually feed from it. They seem to just feed on the surface of the sand, picking up any leftovers or prey that may come across them. Another big difference is the “False Sandsifters” (or how I prefer to call them Sand Dwellers) are much easier than many of the “True Sandsifters” this is due to their wild diet being much more varied and not needing to feed constantly.

So… what’s a “True Sandsifter” then? Well, it’s simple. The genera that I believe should definitely fall under this term are; Koumansetta, Valenciennea, Signigobius and Amblygobius. The biggest genera I see is Valenciennea which I believe shouldn’t be in the majority of tanks however that’s for another thread.
Below is a photo of the most commonly kept species of “True Sandsifter”, Valenciennea puellaris from Seaunseen

The biggest differentiator from these guys and the Sand Dwellers is how they actually use the sand. So the Sand Dwellers will spit it out in a different area to where their den is (Or even around the edges to fortify them). But the Sandsifters will sift through it and drop it through their gill system (I will also explain how in a different post). The reason they do this is they’re sifting for a specific thing, the nutrients they need. They use the sand to feed from, they may also use it to fortify their main den however they will mainly do that when they’re building it. Once they have a secure den they often leave it alone and instead sift around for nutrients.
The gobies in this category will often starve in captivity as during the transportation phase, they don’t get fed which they need to feed in order to get nutrients. Then when they get into the LFS they will most likely be deprived of nutrients already and not get the nutrients they need later on. This will cause many to die and if they don’t then the next struggle is to get them feeding on prepared foods (Frozen and Dry).

So… why do they often get put under the same term?

Simply because both will usually use the sand to their advantage. They often keep areas pristine as they use the sand in certain ways to stay alive, whether it’s to fortify their cave or to feed and not starve. The biggest difference is what they do with the sand, whether that they spit it out or sift it out through their gills.

I hope you enjoyed reading this, and please feel free to join in the conversation below
I just thought it could be an intriguing topic for people to learn about and maybe even add to.

That is interesting, my yellow watchman goby sifts sand a lot, he doesn’t to it to build his den either. He goes around to random spots, takes a mouth full and it slowly falls out his gills. He seems to be eating something because he does this during the times I don’t feed.

 

[i cant think]

That is interesting, my yellow watchman goby sifts sand a lot, he doesn’t to it to build his den either. He goes around to random spots, takes a mouth full and it slowly falls out his gills. He seems to be eating something because he does this during the times I don’t feed.

It’s most likely emptying the den then. Interesting to hear though, all the gobies I’ve owned that are sand dwellers seem to eat the micro fauna in the rockwork instead of the sand.

 

[Slocke]

Surprised the Koumansetta are sand-sifters. Don't seem to have the build for it. Mine looks good and chunky so I've never bothered giving it special food.

Do captive bred sand-sifters negate some of your concerns toward us keeping them?

 

[i cant think]

Surprised the Koumansetta are sand-sifters. Don't seem to have the build for it. Mine looks good and chunky so I've never bothered giving it special food.

Do captive bred sand-sifters negate some of your concerns toward us keeping them?

Honestly, CB sand sifters really don’t make me think they’re any different to a WC sand sifter. They still need the same amount of nutrients to stay healthy and fat, I had(ve?) a Koumansetta hectori and he was healthy however he would still do the same amount of sand sifting as a WC specimen.
The only difference is how he would eat frozen without as much of the difficulty.

 

[Slocke]

The gobies in this category will often starve in captivity as during the transportation phase, they don’t get fed which they need to feed in order to get nutrients. Then when they get into the LFS they will most likely be deprived of nutrients already and not get the nutrients they need later on. This will cause many to die and if they don’t then the next struggle is to get them feeding on prepared foods (Frozen and Dry).

I was looking at this paragraph and thinking that so long as you get it directly from the breeder (who I'd assume is feeding them properly seeing as they're being bred successfully) it would cross everything off except for them not being properly fed in our tanks.

I've never seen my biota rainfordi sift sand actually. It inhabits the water column most of the time though it did dig a burrow that it sleeps in. It eats practically anything I put in the tank though I also add live and frozen baby brine (I think I got it in April and it was 3/4" its now 2" and much girthier). Saying that I had two and the other one lost weight so I gave it away assuming it was being bullied; could actually be that it was just not eating prepared foods.

 

[alabella1]

Amblyeleotris guttata was going to be my secondary choice with the Alpheus/Goby pairing.
Absolutely stunning species and this is one that often gets confused with Valenciennes puellaris for obvious reasons.

I had one paired with a tiger pistol. The shrimp was never seen again from the time I added him but the goby lived and stayed tiny and never sifted any sand. He unfortunately died in QT when my tank got sick and had to go fallow but he was a fun little guy while he lasted.

 

[alabella1]

Interesting...I'm still waiting for my preordered Greissenger Goby to come in btw!

That guy is awesome!! I'm thinking about either a dracula or a yasha paired with a shrimp

 

[Alexopora]

I can certainly attest that I have caught mine sifting sand multiple times. It would gulp sand and it would like munch and sand would fall out of its gills. But i never seem to be able to catch in on video as it would always stop doing it once I whip the phone out.

 

[DerpFish]

Does anyone here have any experience with Bella gobies as sand sifters? I'm trying to plan a stocking list for a future 150g and want a sand sifters. I love the coloration of the Bella, but I don't know how they compare to diamond watchmans in regards to keeping the sand clean.

 

[i cant think]

Does anyone here have any experience with Bella gobies as sand sifters? I'm trying to plan a stocking list for a future 150g and want a sand sifters. I love the coloration of the Bella, but I don't know how they compare to diamond watchmans in regards to keeping the sand clean.

They’re the same as Valenciennea puellaris (Diamond “Watchman” Goby) however they’re harder as they aren’t as adaptable. Personally I think this is a species that needs a deeper sand bed to sustain the life in it.
Similar species to Valenciennea bella are Valenciennea wardii, Valenciennea strigata, Valenciennea muralis. All of these need a slightly more specialised care to help their needs.

 

[DerpFish]

They’re the same as Valenciennea puellaris (Diamond “Watchman” Goby) however they’re harder as they aren’t as adaptable. Personally I think this is a species that needs a deeper sand bed to sustain the life in it.
Similar species to Valenciennea bella are Valenciennea wardii, Valenciennea strigata, Valenciennea muralis. All of these need a slightly more specialised care to help their needs.

Awesome info. Thank you.

 

[kevgib67]

I got my first diamond watchman goby in March after my lfs instructed me to wait an additional 2 months to allow the flora of the sand bed to increase enough to support his nutritional needs. But from the day out got him he eats anything I put in the tank, mysis, reef frenzy, brine and flake. At feeding time he goes to the top wher I introduce the food and chase away the other fish if they get to close. He is such a pig and should be the size of a grouper. As stated before, sand bed is sparkling, although uneven.

 

[djf91]

Here’s my pair of Valenciennea helsdingeni. While they’ll eat anything, their favorite is Nori. The male is the first fish ripping chunks off the algae clip every day.

August 3, 2022

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