The Twostripe Goby, scientifically called Valenciennea helsdingenii, is a type of goby fish found in the Indo-Pacific region. It has different common names like Sleeper Railway Glider Goby, Black-lined Sleeper Goby, or Railway Sleeper Goby.
This fish can grow up to 9.8 inches long and has two noticeable orange or black lines along its body.
It’s not commonly found and usually lives alone or in pairs over sandy areas with silt or rubble.
Twostripe Gobies prefer outer reefs near coral or rocky drop-offs but are rarely seen in lagoons. Their diet consists of small burrowing animals, which they find by filtering sand through their mouths.
Twostripe Gobies are monogamous and lay eggs that hatch after two days when kept in aquariums.
The larvae grow to about 0.2 inches in length within 35 days. These fish are considered reef-safe and don’t harm the coral environment.
Twostripe Goby Interesting Facts
- Twostripe Goby inhabits the Indo-Pacific region and prefers water temperatures between 72°F to 81°F.
- This fish filters sand through its mouth to find small burrowing animals as its main food source.
- Twostripe Gobies are monogamous, laying eggs in aquariums that hatch within two days and grow into larvae within 35 days.
- These gobies are considered reef-safe, posing no harm to coral environments.
Twostripe Goby Habitat
Twostripe Goby is found in the Indo-West Pacific region, specifically from the southern Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia. It also lives in areas from southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Twostripe Goby is a marine fish that lives near reefs, typically at depths between 1 to 30 meters (up to 45 meters).
It prefers water temperatures between 72°F to 81°F (22°C to 27°C). Its habitat range extends from 44°N to 29°S latitude and from 32°E to 138°W longitude.
| Water Temperature: | 72°F to 81°F (22°C to 27°C) |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Twostripe Goby Physical Characteristics
Size: 7.1 inches (18.0 centimeters)
The Twostripe Goby is a fish that can grow up to 9.8 (25 cm) long but is usually around 7.1 in (18 cm).
It has a pale grey body with a broad white stripe along its side and two black or brown stripes bordering the white one. There’s a large black spot on its first dorsal fin.
This fish has 7 dorsal spines, 11 soft dorsal rays, 1 anal spine, and 11 soft anal rays. Its tail fin is either flat or slightly indented, with long filaments on the top and bottom in adults.
The tail fin length ranges from 2.4 to 5 times the fish’s body length.
The Twostripe Goby has between 127 to 146 scales running along its body, which are rough except for smooth ones on the belly area.
The head and neck don’t have scales, but adults have smooth scales reaching toward the middle of the gill cover. Adults also have scales at the base of their pectoral fins and near their pelvic fins.
The body depth of this fish is about five times smaller than its standard length (SL).
Twostripe Goby Reproduction
Twostripe Gobies are known to mate for life, meaning they only have one partner.
This behavior is seen as both a necessity and a social choice.
Twostripe Goby Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Gobiidae |
| Genus: | Valenciennea |
| Scientific Name: | Valenciennea helsdingenii |
| Also Known As: | Twostripe Goby, Sleeper Railway Glider Goby, Black-lined Sleeper Goby, Railway Sleeper Goby |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |