fish aggression

aquadonkey

aquadonkey

New member
Anyone have any experience with this?
I just added a neon cleaner goby to my tank, and (it looks like) my yellow watchman goby has come close to eating it twice already. Yes, the neon would definitely fit in that mouth. The first attack I was sure the neon was a gonner.
I took Brian(LFS_worker)'s advice (thanks!) and kept a close eye after the first attack and was ready for the second one and ran up and shut off the tank lights. I think I'll just leave them off for the night.
It's my understanding that this isn't normal behavior. Will the situation right itself, or should I try to catch my poor little neon and take her back to the LFS?
Thanks :(
 
Is the little neon cleaner still going near the YWG? I've never heard of them eating a cleaner before but this hobby seems to be full of surprises. At the very least I'd keep an eye on those two...
 
Gobies are a type of fish that really won't get along in a closed environment. The exception to the rule is a ton of rock work .... You may get lucky with them, try increasing feedings and move some rock work around that will help break up some territory...
 
I've heard of some gobies not getting along.

Most often do. Especially in a community tank large enough.
But with some, it may depend on species...

I have no idea of possible territory landscape look(rockwork etc)
Since I have not seen your tank.

But some gobies are territorial over a certain amount of bottom space.

Is the tank your referring to, the 29 dt listed on your profile?

These fish are small, but a 29 is not a large tank either.
How long has Mr. Yellow called this home?

The neon would be an easy target for a dominant goby feeling like he possesses all his territory...

But this situation could be totally different for someone else.
Order when added, how long original in.. Tank size.. other fish possibly breaking up the incidents.. could be factors in success.
 
i had a pair of yashi's with a cleaner with no problems (10 g) if anything the neon can be a pest .it might not work out. i'd switch out one of the fish or try and rescape and re intro fish to the tank.
 
Thanks for the help thus far. I just got home from work and the neon is still alive - hanging out in a back corner.


DEEP BLUE SIX said:
I've heard of some gobies not getting along.

Most often do. Especially in a community tank large enough.
But with some, it may depend on species...

I have no idea of possible territory landscape look(rockwork etc)
Since I have not seen your tank.

But some gobies are territorial over a certain amount of bottom space.

Is the tank your referring to, the 29 dt listed on your profile?

These fish are small, but a 29 is not a large tank either.
How long has Mr. Yellow called this home?

The neon would be an easy target for a dominant goby feeling like he possesses all his territory...

But this situation could be totally different for someone else.
Order when added, how long original in.. Tank size.. other fish possibly breaking up the incidents.. could be factors in success.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is in my 29g. The yellow was my first fish (did this on purpose because I read that they were very peaceful....). It's been in there for a month (a week of which was spent in the hospital tank - long story). She (the yellow) seemed upset by the clowns (pair of tiny false percs) when I introduced them a week later, but it seemed like a "bark-worse-than-the-bite" situation.
I think perhaps the situation is worsened by the pistol shrimp. I got it for the goby last Sat. and she been neurotic about protecting it - and their new burrow, which seems to encompass a large portion of the bed of the tank.
Here's a pic - there are about 20 pounds of LR in the DT. The yellow's territory is the cave-like area center/center right - you can see the dug out spaces (I had to rescue my corals from the sand bed - they were getting buried). The neon seems to be safe all the way to the left.

fts-1.jpg


Should I try to catch the neon and move it to the sump tonight?

Thanks guys
 
I'm not viewing it. So, it's hard to say.

It could go either way.

If the yellow doesn't come looking for the neon chasing him all over the tank,
maybe the neon will figure things out and just stay some what clear of the initial area of the burrow/cave.

They could get used to each other and respect territory limits.
It sounds like the yellow is defending the area at and near the burrow, especially after seeing a stranger come around out of know where recently.
This could have sent him into a more hyper mode about it. But may just be initial and temporary.

Perhaps the extra aggressive behavior will somewhat subside though, if the neon watches it's step.

Tough call to make without watching more.
I hope it works out well for you.
Keep us posted.

Both are considered very "peaceful" fish too, just as you noted.
Most of the trade blennies & gobies available for reefs are peaceful.
But some can sometimes not get along depending on certain factors...

It's a judgement call tank owner will have to come to. Since all you can do is monitor until it seems ok or your not comfortable leaving neon in there any longer...

Hopefully it will work out.
 
I added a 4" dragon goby and my YWG is dead man walking! He basically has one rock out of about 40 caves he dug out that he feels safe in, the other goby owns the rest of the tank :( but yet he leaves the mandarin and red scooter blenny alone. Oh Brother
 
re: cleaner Goby

re: cleaner Goby

Gobies can be highly territorial. I once had a cleaner Goby chase and kill another just like it. (Picture the chase in a 225 gallon aquarium!)

I'd remove the little fellow before it becomes fodder.
 
Gary Majchrzak said:
Gobies can be highly territorial. I once had a cleaner Goby chase and kill another just like it. (Picture the chase in a 225 gallon aquarium!)

I'd remove the little fellow before it becomes fodder.
Click to expand...

The situation has mellowed quite a bit today. I left the lights out until I got home for lunch around 12 - then watched carefully. The neon went by the yellow watchman goby's burrow several times and only got chased a little when it came very close. This seemed to be the case all day. The the lights are out again and everyone is tucked in for the night.

Do you still think it is a problem? I don't want the neon to be in danger, but it seems much safer now.

The neon is actually a bit of a dare devil - I think it likes teasing the yellow by sneaking in behind into the territory, then hiding in the tiny holes of the rock behind when the ywg notices....

Thanks everyone for the input.
 
once a goby gets settled into an aquarium it will claim a territory and he will sometimes defend his "home" which it the tank and its present setting . if you can take the time to move everything around for a week and break him of this while the neon goby is present then switch it back to however you desire it will make a big difference . i have wrasse that do this and i mix the tank up for a week and they settle right down .if you like how it presently looks and don't want to change the look then take a picture and mix it up then look at the picture and put it back . it does sound like alot of work but just five or ten minutes will be enough time to rearrange and it will make a world of difference . your fish is worth the effort to get them to all be friends . good luck !
 
iamwrasseman said:
once a goby gets settled into an aquarium it will claim a territory and he will sometimes defend his "home" which it the tank and its present setting . if you can take the time to move everything around for a week and break him of this while the neon goby is present then switch it back to however you desire it will make a big difference . i have wrasse that do this and i mix the tank up for a week and they settle right down .if you like how it presently looks and don't want to change the look then take a picture and mix it up then look at the picture and put it back . it does sound like alot of work but just five or ten minutes will be enough time to rearrange and it will make a world of difference . your fish is worth the effort to get them to all be friends . good luck !
Click to expand...

Well, unfortunately, this isn't really an option. The rocks that form the territory for the ywg are the support rocks in the tank. I would have to dismantle everything - not to mention they're on the glass under 3 inches of sand.....
 
not true ,you could move some and possibly add some small pieces near the area that the goby makes his home and change its look for a week .you may find that the fish will find a new home and at that point you have somewhat removed his territory and thus removing the aggression . get creative and give it a try of simply let the chips fall where they may .
 
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