Aren't Gobies Weird!

[IUfan]

I have 2 yellow watchman gobies, both were captive bred, so they came to me very very tiny. I thought with them being young I had more of a chance of making a pair.

Anyway, for first month they paired up, hung out in the same hole. Then one day they just separated and were complete opposite of 6ft tank. Would meet in the middle and posture at each other and retreat.

So decided to buy them both a shrimp friend, turns out both shrimp went with the bigger goby. Fast forward 3 months give or take. As of yesterday, still opposite ends, 2 shrimp under guard of 1 goby.

Today, well just check the picture...

Sorry, it's an iPhone pic, zoomed in so quality is really bad but it's cool to see.

Looks like the smaller ones fin is banged up, but they now appear to be hanging together with 2 pistol shrimps.

Are gobies similar to clownfish where they have to fight a bit to decide which one is male and which one is female? Could that be what happened?

 

[Reef264]

Congrats on the pair, pretty cool!

 

[auburnreefer110]

If I could get my goby and shrimp out of my tank I would love it. Worst mistake I made. Tunnels everywhere. Getting my brains, and symphylia's all covered with sand. If I can catch them flush flush you go. They have been in there a year or so.

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

Man, just take them to the LFS,or move them to your sump. Don't' flush them. LOL.

Where are you located? If that's Auburn, AL, we may be able to work something out...

 

[auburnreefer110]

Auburn, Mass and I wouldn't flush them ha ha ha

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Generally, they will come together to mate, but still like to live in their separate burrows. I worked with breeding yellow watchman gobies for 2 years as a college thesis.

 

[IUfan]

That's good to know, I looked at the tank today and there now in separate holes again, not 6ft apart, but at least a foot from each other, so maybe yesterday was the big ones lucky day haha.

Were you successful in breeding them? Do they lay eggs or give birth to live young?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Aren't Gobies Weird!

If they are going to lay eggs they usually shack up together for a few days. They lay eggs that hang from the roof of a cave like a yellow punching bag. I didn't get any larvae past the first few days.

Eventually, you'll probably see them spend most of their time apart and every once in a while share a burrow for a couple days at a time. It sounds like they are still young so it will take them a while to figure out their relationship (that is the process you are seeing now). Usually they can work it out and coexist. I did have a few pairs that no matter what would not get along.

 

[auburnreefer110]

Tonight the 2 liter bottle cut up with the top reversed inside. Time to catch the little bugger. If it dies overnight because it gets stuck oh well. Australian brains and symphyllias are a lot more expensive that a little shrimp and gobie. Tired of having to come down every morning and blow tons of piles of sand off corals.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Or you can go buy a breeder box so that you know they will be fine. Your mistake on the purchase, don't take it out on them, spend a few bucks and do it right.

 

[IUfan]

That's cool, I will look out for the egss, but there cave system is buried deep under all the rocks so I likely won't see them or be able to try and raise them. I guess the larvae could act as food for other fish?

Lobsterofjustice do you have any experience with Diamond Watchman Gobys?

Do you know how they form pairs or anything? I got 2 about a month ago, again in hopes of making a pair, I was told that they can change there sex in order to form a pair, is that true? Is it similar to flame angels, so every fish is born a male and can change to female in the right circumstances but then can never change back?

doesn't seem like it with mine, both are at opposite ends of the aquarium, but they are coexisting.

If they are going to lay eggs they usually shack up together for a few days. They lay eggs that hang from the roof of a cave like a yellow punching bag. I didn't get any larvae past the first few days.

Eventually, you'll probably see them spend most of their time apart and every once in a while share a burrow for a couple days at a time. It sounds like they are still young so it will take them a while to figure out their relationship (that is the process you are seeing now). Usually they can work it out and coexist. I did have a few pairs that no matter what would not get along.

 

[Marshall O]

Tonight the 2 liter bottle cut up with the top reversed inside. Time to catch the little bugger. If it dies overnight because it gets stuck oh well. Australian brains and symphyllias are a lot more expensive that a little shrimp and gobie. Tired of having to come down every morning and blow tons of piles of sand off corals.

If you do catch it, I am sure Krystal Clear Aquatics would take it and give you credit when/if someone else buys it. I have had very good luck catching fish using my Reef Gently acclimation box as a trap. If you have trouble finding a new home for it, PM me. I work in Auburn.

 

[reeferstace]

If I could get my goby and shrimp out of my tank I would love it. Worst mistake I made. Tunnels everywhere. Getting my brains, and symphylia's all covered with sand. If I can catch them flush flush you go. They have been in there a year or so.

Tonight the 2 liter bottle cut up with the top reversed inside. Time to catch the little bugger. If it dies overnight because it gets stuck oh well. Australian brains and symphyllias are a lot more expensive that a little shrimp and gobie. Tired of having to come down every morning and blow tons of piles of sand off corals.

What a horrible attitude to have regarding fish in your care. They did exactly what they are known to do. If anyone is at fault here it is YOU for buying them. I hope you don't have children or other pets.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I have had diamonds in singles and a breeding pair as well. I do not know for sure (not sure anyone does) but they probably change sex. From what I remember, several other gobies had been studied that were found to be able to change sex both directions, but I didnt find anything specifically on the types of gobies we are talking about. There really is little to no scientific research on the reproduction of these gobies (you will find a lot on the goby-shrimp symbiosis though). That said, I'm holding out for finding a pair of diamonds at the LFS (how I got my last pair of diamonds)... I'm not going to try to make a pair on my own.

That's cool, I will look out for the egss, but there cave system is buried deep under all the rocks so I likely won't see them or be able to try and raise them. I guess the larvae could act as food for other fish?

Lobsterofjustice do you have any experience with Diamond Watchman Gobys?

Do you know how they form pairs or anything? I got 2 about a month ago, again in hopes of making a pair, I was told that they can change there sex in order to form a pair, is that true? Is it similar to flame angels, so every fish is born a male and can change to female in the right circumstances but then can never change back?

doesn't seem like it with mine, both are at opposite ends of the aquarium, but they are coexisting.

 

[IUfan]

Thanks for the response.

Agreed, to do it all over again, I wouldn't try to make a pair of diamonds, it's very difficult and hard on the fish, I tried to make the pair in my smaller 30g so I could pay closer attention, and to force them to interact and hopefully pair up. Was very stressful for them and after 24 hours I moved them to the 180. In this size tank they both coexist fine, but wouldn't do it again.

As for YWG I think this is a bit easier, and it seems I've managed to make a pair, but helps to get Captive Bred so you can get very young fish.

Diamond Watchman Goby: Great fish, would love to see them captive bred in future.

 

[billyboy69]

[QUOTEI hope you don't have children or other pets.[/QUOTE]a toilet big enough to flush kids ....priceless!

 

[brett7768]

What a horrible attitude to have regarding fish in your care. They did exactly what they are known to do. If anyone is at fault here it is YOU for buying them. I hope you don't have children or other pets.

Holy crap! Take it easy ace Ventura. I don't know what all the sympathy is about, when I go fishing I catch them with sharp hooks and then submerge them in ice. Then I take out the fillet knife and skin them and gut them. Does that mean I shouldn't have kids? Lol!

 

[billyboy69]

Holy crap! Take it easy ace Ventura. I don't know what all the sympathy is about, when I go fishing I catch them with sharp hooks and then submerge them in ice. Then I take out the fillet knife and skin them and gut them. Does that mean I shouldn't have kids? Lol!

I think when it comes to animals that we purchase or that have been shipped half way around the world I think we do have some what of a responsibility to do the right thing, I think your fish should be rehomed not flushed I'm sure it would be easy to find someone to take care of them

 

[IUfan]

I think when it comes to animals that we purchase or that have been shipped half way around the world I think we do have some what of a responsibility to do the right thing, I think your fish should be rehomed not flushed I'm sure it would be easy to find someone to take care of them

Well said!