Engineer Goby feedback

[gsiegel]

I have a well stocked 300g mixed reef and just saw a very cool looking engineer goby - I thought it was an eel. Please tell me any negative issues with them. I do have some pricey other fish that I would not want to risk any problems so I appreciate any feedback from you all.

Thanks

 

[mudcat1]

I had two engineer gobies and they rearranged the sandbed on a regular basis. Make sure your liverock is sitting directly on your tank bottom or they may cause an avalanche.

 

[Mr Autistic]

make sure your tank is coverd found mine on the floor in the morning , was told they get very big and like to re-engineer your tank hence the name :bounce3:

 

[lars65inc]

They are cool fish. They WILL move every bit of sand in your tank from one side to the other on a regular basis. Don't plan on keeping anything near the bottom of the tank. They will eventually cover it up.

I had one in a 90. It got to be about 16" long and bout 3/4" around. I've seen them twice that size. I got rid of it when I upgraded to a 220 though. It was personal preference that I can't stand not having a nice flat sand bed.

If you're going to have one, ALL of your rock must be in contact with the bottom of the tank. Then add sand around it. He WILL cause an avalache otherwise.

Just my .02

Eric

 

[snorvich]

For me, because of their propensity for "engineering", as a coral keeper, they are a PITA.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

They are cool fish. They WILL move every bit of sand in your tank from one side to the other on a regular basis. Don't plan on keeping anything near the bottom of the tank. They will eventually cover it up.

I had one in a 90. It got to be about 16" long and bout 3/4" around. I've seen them twice that size. I got rid of it when I upgraded to a 220 though. It was personal preference that I can't stand not having a nice flat sand bed.

If you're going to have one, ALL of your rock must be in contact with the bottom of the tank. Then add sand around it. He WILL cause an avalache otherwise.

Just my .02

Eric

Really?


QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 1'
Color Form: Black, Blue, White
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Pholidichthyidae

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+165&pcatid=165

 

[gsxriderz]

I had one in my previous 125g tank that was about 14 inches...

 

[hotelbravo]

we had one measure 14 inches at my lfs. so i believe the max length of 12 inches LA lists is incorrect.

 

[snorvich]

I had one in my previous 125g tank that was about 14 inches...

I don't know largest size possible but I have seen many in the 12-14 inch range in the wild. LA says largest is 12 inches?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

My comment was to seeing them more than twice the size of the one he had which was 16". A 32" would be far fetched I would think and probably not the same fish if it was indeed that long

 

[apcoleman]

I have one right around a foot long. I wanted an eel but knew that in a reef setup that would be practically impossible. Most people think it is an eel. Such a cool fish. It moves some sand around for sure. When I set up the rock work I made sure it was resting on the bottom before adding any sand so I wouldn't have an avalanche. I don't really keep any corals on the bottom so the movement isn't an issue.

 

[Blue spot]

Hi g. Just the same advice as everyone else really. I have 2 in the tank and they will get under everything so 100% on the Avalanche . The posative to this is they keep your sand bed pristine, I added mine last to a well stocked tank, so floor space was at a premium and I have plenty of other burrowing fish, blue spot jawfish, pink spot goby and diamond goby all living in sand bed and they never cross into each other s territory so I think you can keep their burrowing contained to a certain extent. Size wise the one is about 1' 2" currently and the other is around 8" , they were both the same size when they went in about 2" so I can only agree , but have no idea what is happening with all the size variations everyone is talking about , but I do know one thing. They grow fast !