Tiger (Wardi) Goby
Valenciennea wardi
Price range: $28.99 through $44.99
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Stock | 2.25 - 3.5" - Indian Ocean | Original price was: $84.99.$44.99Current price is: $44.99. |
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| Only 8 left | 2.25" or smaller - Indian Ocean | Original price was: $70.99.$28.99Current price is: $28.99. |
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Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Sand Sifting |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Tiger (Wardi) Goby (Valenciennea wardii) is a sand-sifting goby that constantly takes mouthfuls of substrate and releases it as clean, fine “snow” across the bottom. It shows a white base color with brown banding and a dark eyespot near the front of the dorsal fin, and it spends most of its time cruising the open sand around its chosen shelter.
What You’ll Observe:
- Regular “sifting passes” across the sandbed, with sand pushed through the gills and sprinkled behind it
- A home base under rock or rubble where it reinforces entrances with sand and small pieces of shell or rubble
- Short bursts of swimming into the water column at feeding time, then returning to the bottom to forage
- Evening routines where it disappears into its sleeping spot and reappears later from the sandbed
How to Succeed: Provide a mature live-sand bed with open sand area plus nearby rockwork for cover, and keep rock structures stable before adding a digging fish. Offer small meaty foods multiple times per day so it can feed consistently while it continues to sift and forage in your substrate.
Will a Tiger (Wardi) Goby pair with a pistol shrimp like a “true” watchman goby?
This species is a Valenciennea sand-sifter, not a Cryptocentrus watchman-type goby, so it’s typically kept on its own rather than as a shrimp-pairing goby.
Is it normal for it to fully bury itself or “seal” its cave?
Yes—many keepers report a nightly routine where it closes off its sleeping spot with sand and then emerges again later.
Why does it sometimes spit sand onto rocks or nearby corals?
Sand-sifters move sand as part of normal foraging, so placement matters; keeping low frags and fleshy pieces slightly elevated helps them stay clear.
Why does it swim up and “bite” at the surface sometimes?
Some individuals learn to grab floating foods or investigate surface items, especially around feeding time, and will then return to bottom-sifting behavior.
Do Tiger (Wardi) Gobies need a lid even though they stay near the bottom?
A snug lid or well-secured screen top is commonly used, since these gobies can make quick upward dashes when startled or during active feeding.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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