Diamond Goby Questions

[puffer_fish]

Hey guys

ok so I have a 14 gal bio that's been up and running for about 4 months with no issue, no issues with water parameters. Live rock came out of a well-established tank. Although I'm pretty new at this my boyfriend (Automatt) has been in the hobby for a while and he's been helping me out so I haven't hit any issues thus far.

I was at the LFS yesterday and they had small diamond gobies. We've kept one before and I wanted to try it out for myself. I bought one that is about 2inches, healthy and already making his home under one of the lr. I know that many people have had issues with keeping these fish in smaller tanks, so my question is pretty much if its possible to keep him and if so, what is the best way to supplement his diet since I know that these guys are good at starving themselves. I'v been feeding using a turkey baster by putting some frozen food underneath the sand by his home.

Thanks

 

[AfricaOffroad]

Try pellets that sink to the tank floor.

My diamond goby eats anything I feed the tank.
It all depends how fast he is in comparison to the rest of the crew.

 

[puffer_fish]

Thanks for the advice. One last thing, my goby has been doing a weird move; he yawns, floats up an inch over the sand bed, then sits back down. He's not doing it in defense (opening his mouth wide), he's just randomly yawning. Is this something I should be worried about?

Thank you

 

[Toddrtrex]

[welcome]


I, personally, will never keep this fish again -- even the ones I kept, that were eating prepared foods, still managed to starve to death in a 75 after about 9-12 months.

 

[puffer_fish]

ugh, I was afraid of that... I keep reading similar stories from other people. I guess it's just a waiting game with mine then. Thank you for the info and the welcome!

 

[SushiGirl]

I've had 2. Neither starved to death & both were eating anything I put in the tank. I always made sure food sank to the bottom, including feeding pellets. He never wasted anytime keeping the Nassarius snails from getting it first.

 

[puffer_fish]

I've had 2. Neither starved to death & both were eating anything I put in the tank. I always made sure food sank to the bottom, including feeding pellets. He never wasted anytime keeping the Nassarius snails from getting it first.

haha well that's what I am hoping for with mine. It seems like it just depends on everyone's situations. So overall, it is possible to keep a diamond goby in a smaller tank as long as you make sure he is eating well?

 

[GoingPostal]

Don't diamond gobies get over 5"? Their feeding issues aside, this isn't a suitable fish for a nano. I only know of one doing well long term and it's in a well fed 210 gallon and makes a disaster of the bottom of the tank throwing sand everywhere.

 

[skraj011]

I;ve had 2 of these and find them to be very hardy. they ate everything i put it in the tank and are terrific at keeping the sand bed clean.

they are excellent jumpers, so a top is a must

 

[puffer_fish]

thanks everyone for the responses and advice. I realize he's not really suitable for my smaller tank, but he's doing good now and I think as long as he's still small I will keep him because I don't want to stress him out by taking him out of the tank. I will probably have to pass him on to one of my friends with a larger tank pretty soon though :/

 

[Apercula]

Mine wasn't a diamond goby, but a close cousin, and I had the same experience as Todd. It ate everything I fed and still starved in about 9 months. Mature 75g tank with 2inch+ sandbed.

 

[SushiGirl]

Apercula, I just got one of those today. He's a little piggy already at about 2" right now, and loves attention.

Puffer, I had my Diamonds in a 38-gallon tank (not at the same time). Lost everything in my tank once during a thunderstorm while I was out of the country (lights zapped the tank during a power surge, as best as my fishsitters & I could figure), and lost everything in my tank the 2nd time due to caulerpa going sexual. I had each of them for well over a year. I'm also a notorious overfeeder, so maybe that helped.

 

[IFbettas]

My diamond goby was starving in my 55 gallon with a mature dsb even though he ate everything I offered. After a month, he had completely cleaned out the sand bed of all worms and pods. He gained weight after I put him in my 180, but shortly after I moved and had to sell him.

I think I'd get yours out of the 14 gallon before you get too attached to it.

 

[skidoll]

I've had my diamond goby for about 4 months. He started in a 29, and moved to my 120 after it was setup in Nov. I, too, was worried about him starving, but so far its been okay. Eats anything I feed the tank, and sifts sand for goodies constantly. I'll have to find a pic. He's got a large, "beer gut." Btw....yawning is perfectly normal, mine does it often. Well, I think its yawning....lol!

 

[inthesea]

I have had mine for about 2 years now and he keeps the sand in my 250 nice and clean, but he hasn't grown that much in 2 years.

 

[skidoll]

Btw, even though he'll outgrow your nano, maybe u can buy some supplemental copepods from online. I haven't done this, yet, but it may work to keep him from starving. Just a thought...

 

[puffer_fish]

I figured he will take a while to grow so maybe if I keep him well fed he can stay for a while... and I have bought copepods before from a LFS that hopefully are multiplying in my lr. How often do you think I should buy copepods?