Gobies?

[Mark0818]

I’m considering getting a goby. These are my considerations, any experience or knowledge of these would be great!

Cryptocentrus cinctus â€"œ Yellow Watchman (My First Choice)
Valencienna pullaris â€"œ Orange Diamond Sleeper Goby
Valenciennaea strigata â€"œ Golden Headed Sleeper Goby
Amblyeleotris latisfasciata â€"œ Harbour Goby
Cryptocentrus sp. â€"œ Banded Watchmen
Cryptocentrus leptocephalas â€"œ Shrimp-goby Pink& Blue

FYI:
I currently don’t have sand in my tank now. However, I’m getting sand from my friend next week. The sand was previously in his tank, so it is cultured.

 

[NJGirlinPhx]

We have a pair of Orange Diamond sleepers. They eat great, clean the sand (it's pure white now!) and rearrange the topography on a daily basis. They're also not nearly as skittish as I thought they'd be and they're quite entertaining to watch. Love them!

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I have heard mixed reviews on the Valenciennea genus. Some people like them, but others complain of them making sandstorm messes, and some say they never eat and slowly waste away.

Gobies of the genera Cryptocentrus and Amblyeleotris should be good choices. They will spend most of the time watching tankmates from outside the entrance of their burrow. They stay in the same area most of the time.

 

[Mark0818]

LobsterOfJustice.....thanks for the info. I think I will go with the yellow watchman!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Can you mix gobys ?

I have a yellow watchman paired with a pistol I want to add a diamond back goby to sift my sand is this a good idea or will they fight ?

What about mixing a yellow watchman with a neon goby ?

They will be in a 28 gallon bowfront.

 

[davidryder]

I had a Orange Diamond Sleeper Goby and always thought he was a cool fish. He always dug caves and filtered the sand all day. I saw him a lot - he didn't hid too much during the day. I also had 2 refugiums and a 3" sandbed so he was very healthy. I have heard of them slowly wasting away. Transplanting the sand will cause a lot of dieoff that can take months to replenish so that's something else to consider.

No matter what you choose you will probably have opportunities to get different species in the future.

 

[BangkokMatt]

The yellow watchmans are very hardy and a great fish. If thats your first choice, go for it.

 

[Mark0818]

Does the Yellow Watchman dig caves and stuff? Also, could I mix a different species of goby such as the Valencienna?

 

[espocrespo]

If its a sand sifter i recommend Valencienna longipinnis far better than the other 2 you mentioned. YWG are also great and compatible with the previous fish.

 

[Mark0818]

What would you say if I got a goby and placed new sand in it....remember I'm puting in sand from an established tank. Do you think that would be fine? or should I wait a month or so?

 

[davidryder]

Are you not even reading your own thread?

 

[Mark0818]

lol! why would there be die off? I would be placing the sand from one tank to the other in less then a hour.

 

[davidryder]

Anytime you stir the sand in a tank there is going to be dieoff. Bacteria, crustaceans, and any other microfauna is going to have to deal with the complete movement of their home. It's pretty normal: you disturb the sandbed and the fauna residing in it is going to have to completely adjust and repopulate itself.

Now take your condescending LOL and find an appropriate place for it - because you apparently need to be humbled.

Whatever you decide you and your fish will most likely be ok. But don't ask for advice and only consider what you want to hear.

 

[Peter Eichler]

I'm one of those that suggests staying away from Valenciennea sp. gobies. I've seen them slowly starve and waste away even when they are eating prepared foods. There also may be complications with them considering they develop strong pair bonds and typically remain monogamous. This pair bond is also seen in their feeding habits where the two fish will never feed at the same time and will take turns feeding and keeping watch for possible predators. Worm parasites have been considered as another possibility for their slow demise.

Unless you have a very large and very well established aquarium/sandbed (of which you have neither) it's best to find another genus of goby.