Diamond Watchman Goby

[Fishie Nut]

I just got this Goby. He's still somewhat shy, and digging the sh... out of my sand, creating a cloud in my crystal clear water -- not any more. I've got him in my 35 gal, to be transferred into the new 100 gal is a couple of months.
Will he keep digging? Are the rest of the inhabitants of my reef in for couldy days?
This fish was a gift. I'm keeping him, but is there anything I can do?

 

[coker98]

they are sand sifters i think it is just what they do.

 

[chocolateblnt]

He will make his tunnels/mounds when introduced into the tank and probably will not leave an aread unsifted ... once pleased wth his new sand establishment and or home, he'll simply sift at will for food. Great fish if you're used to over feeding your tank because it should be fed often. If underfed you will see a divit in the stomach, right after the main fins. Otherwise it's an awesome fish ... one of my favorite!

 

[Avi]

I don't think it's a long-term problem. The cloudiness that comes with the goby's behavior should abate after some time. I have one in my reef and it's "mouthing" the sand all the time and releasing it from its gills but there's no cloudiness generated as a result. There must be some silt or other substance in your tank's substrate that needs to be filtered out. How long has the tank been set up? I think that most likely, it would benefit the tank if you completely disrupt the substrate from time to time and allow the cloudy water to be processed by your skimmer and water changes. Eventually, it will no longer appear when the the Diamond Goby sifts the sand.

 

[tulkas71]

The day after I got mine, he dug himself up under my LR somewhere, the rock must have shifted, and he died.(Never saw him again in the tank and he didnt jump)
I couldnt tear the tank down to find him. (several non destructive attempts)
Nitrates went off the scale. Been doing alot of water changes Slowly have it back down in the 40's

Yeah...great fish