Valenciennea puellaris
Valenciennea puellaris in natural conditions lives in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, at a depth of 2 to 30 m. The fish can be found among coral reefs, in the burrows they dig in the sand under large rocks. In general, these fish are quite interesting, but contain them in an aquarium, and this is primarily due to their feeding - fish are hard to get used to replacement foods, and very often die of starvation. If the issue with feeding will be resolved, the rest of these fish are not a problem. Recommended for keeping only experienced aquarists.
The body coloration of Valenciennea puellaris varies from light brown to white. Along the sides there are a pair of longitudinal dotted lines of orange color. There are also two short light blue dashed lines on the head. In males, the anterior dorsal fin is elongated, filamentous shape. The maximum size of fish in an aquarium is 6-7 cm, although in nature, their size sometimes reaches 14 cm.
This is a very peaceful fish. Some signs of aggression gobies exhibit only during the spawning period, when they fiercely defend their clutch from fish of their own species. To other fish gobies are very rarely aggressive. Keep them in a reef aquarium of 200 liters alone or in pairs.
Water parameters: temperature 22-26° C, hardness dH 8-12°, pH 8,1-8,4, salinity 1.023-1.025.
As the ground can be used coarse sand or fine sandy gravel, poured a layer of at least 10 cm. At the bottom of the right to place large stones, under which fish will dig their holes. It should be noted that these fish are constantly digging in the soil thus saturating it with oxygen and ensure its purity.
Valenciennea puellaris bottom fish, which extracts food sifting sand through the gills. It is very difficult to feed fish in the aquarium, as it is quite problematic to provide fish benthic invertebrates and small polychaetes in the live sand. Fish are gradually transferred to substitute food: frozen artemia, small shrimp and worms. Feed the fish several times a day.
Reproduction
Valenciennea puellaris sometimes breed in aquarium conditions.
The female lays her eggs on the top surface of their burrow. The male guards the nest. The eggs are incubated for 3-4 days, after which the larvae hatch. The fry are fed plankton.
