Do engineer gobies NEED sand?

[Aqua Keepers]

Do engineer gobies NEED sand? I want one but I'm going BB.

 

[poknsnok]

nope. I know a guy who had one in a bb 90 gallon. I think it would be happier to have sand know... they like to keep busy

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Is he an RC member?

 

[reefierone]

engineers get huge and eat a TON i had two in my 75 and got rid of them when i got my 225. in about a year and a half they went from 1" to 12"

 

[poknsnok]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12209717#post12209717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
Is he an RC member?

should still be but broke down his tank.. Daddyjax is his screen name

 

[OceanSpray]

I had 2 for about 3 years in my 75. I've still got 1 of them, but the other passed away a couple of months ago. I'm no expert, but from watching mine, I don't believe they need sand. Every month I do a water change and clean my tank. I also level my sand back out. They dig giant craters in it, and pile it up like you wouldn't believe. However, each month when I level it back out, they dig like crazy for a few days, until they get their tunnels to hide in, and then they quit. It seems that they just need a good place to hide, like maybe some caves or pvc piping or something. I have a very deep sandbed so I could be wrong, but thats how it seems. Reefierone is right though, they do grow fast. In 3 years mine went from looking like minnows to about 16" long. I've really enjoyed them, but they are hard to feed. I drop food in the tank, and I see them stick their heads out for it, but they are so shy that if the food doesn't come right to them, they won't expose themselves to get it. I think maybe thats why my other one finally passed on. They do seem to stress out badly, whenever their hiding places are disturbed. I've also seen them in a large reef tank at a local LFS. Their tank had only about 1 inch of sand, and the engineers hid out in the rock work. Digging does seem to be in their nature though, so ???

 

[Aqua Keepers]

I just PM'd daddyjax, to see if he'll chime in. I noticed that his last post was a couple of days ago so yes he's still lurking.

 

[DaddyJax]

Yup, still lurking every once in a while. I one in my 125g for 3 years with no sand but lots of rock and rubble on the bottom for him to keep busy. Then I moved him to the 90g for another year till I broke it down and sold him. I would say that they would prefer sand but not needed. I also kept Yellow Coris Wrasses as well in my BB tanks. I allowed for a small amount of sand/detritus in one corner of the tank in the back for them to sleep at night.