Blenny or Goby in barebottom tank?

[pr3ach3r]

I assume that most blennies and gobies need a sand substrate since they are benthic species, but are the some that would do well in a barebottom tank? I especially am interested in the "Midas Blenny" which (I gather from other posts on this forum) is not necessarily a bottom dweller.

 

[mil hse]

My buddy's Midas blenny lives in a co co warm tube. And mine lived in a cave in one of my rocks. It will be fine

 

[BigOldReef]

I have a bicolor blenny, 2 tail spot blennies, and a lawnmower blenny.

In the goby category I have a pair of Mandarins,a Target Mandarin, a pair of Firefish.

Barebottom tank, with lots of rock work.

I've had Midas Blennies. I've had issues with getting them to feed well enough to last long term.

 

[rssjsb]

Midas blennies are plankton feeders. They stay in and around the rocks, with forays into the water column to feed. They don't need a sandbed.

I'm surprised to hear that you've had issues feeding more than one midas BigOldReef, since they're generally considered pretty easy. I see a lot more reports saying that tailspots are hit or miss.

I had a midas that I loved, but lost it in a tank crash many years ago. It ate pretty much anything I put in the tank. I've been meaning to pick up another for my current tank, so maybe I should do a little more research to see if your experience is common.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Most blennies should be fine, I would avoid sand sifting or watchman type gobies, they would probably live but I don't think they would be very happy.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

I love my tailspot blenny, he is a fat little piglet. I did a lot of research & feed formula 2 flakes along with various frozen. He spends most of his time in the rock work so I don't see why one wouldn't work. He has the neatest personality.

 

[Moort82]

I have four tailspots and they all take whatever you add to the tank. They are also fine without sand, although i have some.I can't really think of a blenny that wouldn't be.
As mentioned before the midas are planktovors who naturally swim with anthias and have similar care needs, ie lots of small frequent meals throughout the day as they would be picking at food all day long. However they seem to be really hardy and should do ok on just a couple of feeds, so i think you may have just been unlucky or had the wrong mix of species.

For gobies i agree that if you leave out the sand sifting pecies you should be ok but the symbiotic pair species might also not appreciate the bare ness of the bottom as they like to live in burrows.