Can Goby's Pair with Other gobys?

[Almenmarine]

Hello RC. I have a few questions. I am cycling my new 30GL. It will not be ready for Corals and Fish for another Month. I am breaking down my 58 and the fish are staying in there until then. I bought a Pair of B&W Ocellaris' for the 30. I also bought a small Yellow Watchmen Goby.

Here's the problem though.

I love my Coral Banded shrimp, and have read several articles stating that a CBS and Pistol will not get along. I've read a article about someone who has a Orange spotted Goby and a Yellow Watchme goby who are "Paired". She stated that they stay in the same cave and follow eachother around. Is this really possible?

Like i said, i really like the CBS, but i don't want him to cause any problems. A tank would seem incomplete without some sort of cleaning shrimp. I wouldn't want the Pistol to kill it or vice versa.

Opinions?

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

I have no idea about the gobies issue but just so you know, CBS are NOT cleaners. Blood shrimp and skunk cleaners are the most common cleaners and I think either would be fine with a smallish pistol.

 

[artur]

One time I got a small pistol shrimp and as soon as I put it in the tank my skunk cleaners. (2) went for it, 15 bucks dinner for the cleaners!!!

 

[TripleT]

One time I got a small pistol shrimp and as soon as I put it in the tank my skunk cleaners. (2) went for it, 15 bucks dinner for the cleaners!!!

Wow! I'm guessing hungry skunks, and a pistol shrimp caught off guard.

Next time I'd target feed your skunks first, they can have pretty big appetites. Mine love krill, and large pellets.

And you might try one of those little critter tanks with the slotted top. Put the pistol in that, near some rock, and crack the lid open a little.

 

[TripleT]

I love my Coral Banded shrimp, and have read several articles stating that a CBS and Pistol will not get along. I've read a article about someone who has a Orange spotted Goby and a Yellow Watchme goby who are "Paired". She stated that they stay in the same cave and follow eachother around. Is this really possible?

Like i said, i really like the CBS, but i don't want him to cause any problems. A tank would seem incomplete without some sort of cleaning shrimp. I wouldn't want the Pistol to kill it or vice versa.

Opinions?

Gobies and pistols can pair up. Sometimes you'll even get more than one goby and more than one shrimp in a single burrow.

The best bet is to buy them paired already, but they can pair up afterwards as well... if they decide to. QT'ing them together in a small tank with less hiding places is a good opportunity to try pairing them up.

Pistols can be reclusive. Some you will rarely see.

If you like your Coral Banded Shrimp, you'll feel the same about a skunk cleaner. But I wouldn't put both in the same tank.

So if you relocate your Coral Banded, skunks and pistols can usually coexist, as they will rarely even occupy the same territory. Not to mention, a prepared pistol can defend himself!

 

[TripleT]

Oh, and for the goby/goby pairing specifically... make sure if they don't take to each other, that they have enough space in the tank to steer clear of each other.

I've heard something like 16 inches apart, but I'm sure that varies quite a bit.

I have a yasha goby and a sleeper goby that share the same spot. It's pretty funny looking, considering the sleeper goby is an absolute giant next to the yasha!

 

[lildraken]

I have the weirdest threesome! A widowed diamond goby (it's mate jumped out of the tank), a blue spot watchman and a bullseye pistol shacking up together. The diamond tends to venture away more often but they tolerate each other in the same cave. The pistol is seen serving as a cleaner shrimp to the diamond goby.