True vs False… what’s the difference?

[i cant think]

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.

 

[Ryde]

Good little read.

 

[i cant think]

Good little read.

Thankyou, it was a last minute idea that I just put together in the past hour.

 

[CoralClasher]

Thought I was done buying fishes, now you got me thinking.

 

[i cant think]

Thought I was done buying fishes, now you got me thinking.

Oh I thought I was done with fish… then I saw a Yellow Watchman and Tiger Pistol Pair in person for the first time… Never have I wanted a common fish so badly.

 

[MaxTremors]

Is this really a point of confusion? I don’t mean that disparagingly, but I’ve never seen watchmans or any of the genera you mentioned as ‘sand dwellers’ sold as ‘sand sifters’. Is it common in the UK?

 

[i cant think]

Is this really a point of confusion? I don’t mean that disparagingly, but I’ve never seen watchmans or any of the genera you mentioned as ‘sand dwellers’ sold as ‘sand sifters’. Is it common in the UK?

It is relatively common where I am, there’s the odd occasion the LFS will change them. It can also be the other way round, where Valenciennea and other Sandsifters are actually sold as Sand Dwellers (Diamond Watchman is a very common one).

 

[Slocke]

I’ve been wondering about this for a while. I kept hearing about how shy sandsifting gobies are while my late diamond (Valenciennea puellaris) was the Clint Eastwood of my tank.

I replaced that carpet surfer with a fake sandsifter haha

 

[i cant think]

I’ve been wondering about this for a while. I kept hearing about how shy sandsifting gobies are while my late diamond (Valenciennea puellaris) was the Clint Eastwood of my tank.

I replaced that carpet surfer with a fake sandsifter haha

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.

 

[Slocke]

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.

Yeah a Valenciennes puellaris in some cool hippie glasses and a slightly different shirt.

 

[Slocke]

This doesn’t help. Calling both watchman, right?

 

[i cant think]

This doesn’t help. Calling both watchman, right?

It really doesn’t, unfortunately both have opposite cares due to dietary and activity needs. Both are stunning but Puellaris is harder to care for.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

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

 

[i cant think]

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

Unfortunately I think I lost mine as he was brought into my LFS in June 2021. Im unsure of their average lifespan in captivity however due to their size I believe it’s only around a year.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Unfortunately I think I lost mine as he was brought into my LFS in June 2021. Im unsure of their average lifespan in captivity however due to their size I believe it’s only around a year.

Awww, that's a shame! Any idea why their lifespan might be so relatively short? I thought Gobies generally lived longer than that

 

[i cant think]

Awww, that's a shame! Any idea why their lifespan might be so relatively short? I thought Gobies generally lived longer than that

Most of the medium sized gobies live for 2-3 years, the smaller guys can live for shorter lifespans. I think this is just due to how big they grow and once they get to that size they don’t live much longer (They may live a bit longer to breed but probably not much longer). The larger species can live longer though, I think some such as the Yellow Watchman can live 10 or so years.

 

[roggy23]

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

 

[OU812Reefing]

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.

I must say my Diamond Goby keeps my sand bed clean I don’t vacuum the sand at all I have to move sand from time to time but that’s it

 

[Bruce Burnett]

I must say my Diamond Goby keeps my sand bed clean I don’t vacuum the sand at all I have to move sand from time to time but that’s it

I have to agree they sift a lot of sand and spend much of their time up front. Mine goes into his den and closes it up at night but is out first thing moving sand through his gills.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I love my little goby (Mr. Gobes). He has his little cave he moves the sand around so much and covers it at night but my sand always looks sparkling. I woke him up the other night to feed him and this is what I imagined he was thinking when he poked his little head out lol.