clown gobies and sps tanks...?

[jade2122]

I am setting up a mostly sps tank and have recently seen a very cute green/red clown goby for sale. Wondering what everyone's experience was with mixing them in an sps tank, know they can possibly nip at the polyps, please let me know.

 

[waterfaller1]

Don't do it. Although adorable, the damage they can do is unbelievable. I had one rip the whole side of a millipora off. That was the last straw after constant picking.

 

[InLimbo87]

Yup going to have to agree with Carole on this one also. Definitely don't do it, I bought one and it went straight for nipping my sps. Got the fish out, but my sps didn't open for a couple of days afterwards...

 

[sytanek]

If I remember correctly, Brazengirll had the same issue.

They are so awesome looking tho its tempting.

 

[Brazengrrl]

Yep, great personality, but cost me many sleepless nights! ~lol~

 

[cristhiam]

I had two yellow that terrorized all my sps, most of them recovered but two frags didn't make it. I saw them tear polyps apart!! It was easy to get them out they picked the big acro as a home and I took them out at night.

 

[chrisstie]

I also think they shouldn't be mixed with clams as well, no?

 

[cristhiam]

They perch on them, my clams didn't mind, also they perch on softies, the problems are mainly with sps's they like picking at polyps.

 

[waterfaller1]

I will add though.. another thought. It is said by many hobbyists that the green/red clown goby is the least problematic with corals. When paired clown gobies do like to bed down amongst corals..particularly montipora. I did have one yellow once who was never a problem. Unfortunately at the time I also had a YT damsel that was relentless in his pursuit of my small fish.
So as always...not all fish are the same. Proceed with caution.

 

[cristhiam]

Greens are bad as the others, there is a big sps thread about clown gobies a while ago. Taking them out in a big/medium tank can be problematic, not worth the trouble for a $7 IMO. Cost me about $50 in losess.

 

[chrisstie]

Sounds like an ideal candidate for a non-MH nano tank then with just softies and LPS (and even then ya gotta watch the buggers) but they're so cute!

 

[onano]

I had one in my nano. This was my wifes favorite fish. No trouble at first but after about 6 mos. he started picking at my pocillopora (only sps in the tank). I moved the pocillopora to my 75 and no more issues. Unfortunately the goby got caught in the skimmer intake while I was at work. By the time I got home it was too late. I haven't replaced him because I think my clown will bully him (goby was in the tank before the clown was added).

Cool fish but not for an SPS tank.

 

[m3nac3]

I have a green and red clown goby, he hasnt picked at any of my polyps ... he also likes to bed in my open brain but doesnt ever do any harm at all.

guess i got a good one.