Goby Keeps trying to Jump

[mjoener]

I bought a watchman goby on Sunday, he must of jumped this morning, found him on the floor when he didn't come out to feed.

Tested the water, everything seems ok, no nitrite, barely a nitrate reading, ph at 8.0, no ammonia, temp is 74, salinity 1.024. The tank is 5g.

Picked up a Black Ray goby to replace him. Drip acclimated him for about 1.5 hrs. He has not stopped trying to get out!

I also have a cherub who I got with the watchman, and she is fine, hasn't once tried to escape! She has eaten when fed and cruises the rock work.

Do these gobies just do that until they are comfy in the tank?

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

build a screen top using 1/4" netting from BRS

 

[ilikefish34]

Any fish can potentially take that leap of faith, but it's the gobies, wrasses, and eels that are are the quickest to go carpet surfing. It isn't necessarily a water quality or bullying issue... they just do it and it can be within the first few seconds of being introduced to the DT or it can be years later. Definitely like ingtar_shinowa's advice of building a screen top (you'll find threads on here for such). Also a good idea to QT gobies with prazipro since they are prone to internal parasites and difficult to catch in the DT without destroying the rock work.

Good luck with the new and future fishes!
Mike

 

[madweazl]

5g tank doesnt leave much real estate for tank mates.

 

[pktech]

If you're saying you also have a cherub "angel" in a 5 gallon tank, I think it's only a matter of time until the cherub jumps too. They're territorial & caused your goby to jump, imo.

 

[MacWilliams]

Agreed the Angel may have caused the goby to jump. 5g is much too small for an angel. Even a dwarf. You may want to think about relocating that fish and stick with the goby. That or upgrade to a bigger tank.

 

[mjoener]

I heard that they can be semi-agressive, but generally towards other angels. As for the angel, she is about 1.5" and cruises her "side of the rock work, I have never seen her on the right side.
The gobies were both placed in the rock work on the right side and found a burrow there while the lights were on. When the lights turned off is when I noticed them trying to get out. They would eventually rest on the ledge against the overflow.
For the time being I drilled holes in a tupperware container and put him in there with some LR rubble. He will spend today while I'm at work in there.