Decorated Goby
Istigobius decoratus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
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Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
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| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Sand Sifting |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 20 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Decorated Goby (Istigobius decoratus) is a sand-dwelling sleeper goby that helps keep the top layer of substrate turned over as it forages. It’s a patterned Indo-Pacific species that spends much of its time close to the bottom, moving between open sand and low rockwork.
What You’ll Observe:
- Short, purposeful “hops” and glides across the sand as it checks the substrate for food
- Taking mouthfuls of sand, sifting, and releasing it close to where it was collected
- Regular activity in open areas, with quick retreats to nearby cover between passes
- Coming up into the water column at feeding time for meaty foods
To succeed, provide a fine sandbed it can easily sift and arrange rockwork so it has nearby “rest stops” along the bottom. Offer a variety of small meaty foods like mysis/brine and finely chopped seafood on a consistent schedule, and a tight-fitting lid helps keep active gobies safely in the aquarium.
Will this goby bury frags or create big sand mounds like some sand sifters can?
Many keepers report it often sifts in place instead of carrying sand up and dumping it, so it tends to be lighter-touch on aquascapes compared with “mound-building” species.
Does it actually eat frozen foods, or does it only live off the sandbed?
Hobbyists commonly describe it taking frozen foods (like mysis and mixed “fish mash”) in addition to sifting behavior, especially once it learns the feeding routine.
Is it normal if it spends time perched on rocks instead of staying on the sand?
Yes—keepers often observe decorated gobies moving onto rock ledges and then returning to the sand to forage, rather than staying in one spot all day.
Will it constantly “sandstorm” the tank during sifting?
Most reports describe controlled sifting with sand released close to the substrate, which helps limit clouds when the sand grain size is appropriate.
How do I feed it if faster fish rush the food first?
Target feeding near the bottom (so food gets into its foraging lane) is a common approach, and feeding smaller portions more than once can help slower bottom fish get consistent bites.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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