Tank setup
A minimum 200L aquarium suits Six-spot Goby. Provide hiding spots and stable water — this species thrives in a well-filtered community setup.
Where to buy
Compare prices from SA aquarium shops listing Six-spot Goby.
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Overview
What to know before you buy.
The Six-spot Goby, or Spot-headed Sand Sifter, is a hard-working fish with a pearly white body and several small, iridescent blue spots on its cheeks. Its primary behavior, and the reason it's so popular, is its constant sifting of the sand bed. It takes large mouthfuls of sand, filters out edible organisms, and expels the clean sand through its gills, keeping the substrate clean and aerated. It must be kept in an aquarium with a mature, deep sand bed to survive. An interesting fact is that these gobies form monogamous pairs, often sharing a burrow which they diligently maintain together.
Key traits
peaceful
community
reef safe
medium
moderate
detritivore
specialized
Compatibility
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Care guide
Everything you need to keep Six-spot Goby healthy in a South African setup.
Water parameters
Keep pH 8.1–8.4 and 24–28°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Feeding
Six-spot Goby is detritivore. Feed a varied diet appropriate for saltwater fish — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Behaviour
Six-spot Goby is generally peaceful. Observe during feeding and at lights-out for true temperament.
Tankmates
Pair with similarly sized peaceful tankmates in saltwater fish. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding
Breeding notes for Six-spot Goby vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
Keeping marine fish?
Marine chemistry moves daily — the foundation sets keep calcium, alkalinity and magnesium honest.
Availability confirmed with the distributor before dispatch · free delivery over r750
Community photos
From hobbyists across SA.
Photo by FishHubAdmin
Often kept with
Real pairwise verdicts for Six-spot Goby, not a same-category guess. Always confirm adult size and your tank's specifics before buying.
- Often kept together
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Amphiprion percula
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
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Fire Shrimp (Blood Red Shrimp)
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In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Zoanthid Colony (various colors)
Zoanthus sp.
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Flame Angelfish
Centropyge loricula
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Banded Boxing Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Kole Tang
Ctenochaetus strigosus
In a 300L+ tank