Amblyeleotris randalli

[rockslide123]

anyone have experience with Randall's prawn goby? Would like to know what type of sand they prefer, depth of sand, minimum tank requirement to prevent starvation (long term). Are they symbiotic with any shrimp tha are readily available. Any special needs...Thanks

 

[Betta132]

Randall's gobies are just little shrimpgobies. They need two-three inches of sand for their shrimp to burrow in. Randall's pistols or tiger pistols may work. They aren't one of those fish that HAS to eat from the sandbed, though they do sift the sand somewhat. They need meaty food (mysis, etc), preferably twice a day. If you can get him to eat protein-rich good-quality pellets, that works. They don't need a hugely mature tank, though it's best if you put them in a tank that's been up for a while to be sure there are critters in the sandbed to supplement his diet. They don't have hugely specialized substrate needs, they just require a sand that is fairly fine-grain and soft. It's best to mix bits of rubble or put a few handfuls of broken shells near the burrow, as the shrimp will use these to shore up the walls of their tunnel.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Mine eats whatever goes in the tank. It was previously paired w/ a tiger pistol I lost to old age. I replaced the tiger w/ a candy cane pistol & they have yet to find each other, it's been several months.

Definitely not shy, I see it all the time.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Wish mine was like that. After a month in QT mine never seemed to learn who I was. I've never had that happen. QT is where the fish have always figured out that I am The-Bringer-of-Food. Shy or not, I've always had fish start responding to the sight of me near the tank. Always. But not the Randall's. It's like he's Autistic or something. He would just sit there, with food falling on his head, completely unaware of what was happening. Then it would be like suddenly his brain got plugged in. It would be like he suddenly woke up, and " oh, wow, food," and he'd eat some, than brain would unplug again. Like he would forget he was eating, and just sit there. I don't get it. Maybe he has Alzheimer's? Now that he is in the DT, I see him maybe once a day. He lives in the back of the tank. Never comes out for food. Never chases the live food in the tank. He's not skinny but I will be darned if I know what he's eating. Good luck with yours, Rockslide.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Mine is readily visible and eats anything except Nori (eats Larry's, mysis, NLS pellets) One of my favorite goby species.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Over the years I have had two. Each one was with me for several years.

The first one was without a shrimp and he ate whatever floated by in the water. I don't think I ever saw him pick from on or in the sand. He was always right in front, in his little cave made under a rock. He didn't dig or burrow and was always visible.

My second was more reclusive, and he was with a shrimp. I think it was a tiger. He (and his shrimp) would constantly dig and burrow. The "doorway" to the cave was ever changing and as a result he was frequently out of sight. I never saw him eat anything, though he was fat and happy. He was still a great fish but kind of a PIA with the digging and hiding. After about 2 or 3 years I believe the shrimp went rogue. First the goby was found dead then a couple other little fish disappeared. I removed the shrimp and never again lost a fish from mysterious reasons.

I am about to get a Randalls goby for my new tank, it is one of my all time favorite fish. This time there will be no shrimp!

 

[hogfanreefer]

Just get a candy cane (randalls shrimp) instead of a tiger shrimp and I bet you have no problems. The relationship between shrimp and fish is really cool to watch.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I have been contemplating doing that. I do find the interaction of the shrimp/goby very interesting.