Goby selection

[stlcards14]

I'm looking for help on choosing a goby for my fish tank. I'd like something that sifts the sand because my snails aren't doing the best job. I have a 180 gallon reef tank that has been established for about 4-5 months. The sand bed is about 1.5- 2 inches deep. I understand that when they are sifting threw the sand that they are eating the beneficial organisms that live in the sand so I don't want it to clean house and then starve and die. I'm also considering a pistol shrimp to get some of the sand moving. Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Eville]

I like diamond gobies the best. Also consider sand sifting stars and sea cumcumbers.

 

[Dodger745]

I have the same size tank and a compatible sand bed. I am leaning towards a diamond goby for my system. Currently I have removed the glass lids for the tank. But I'm thinking with adding this fish I will have to re install them

 

[Irishdolphin]

+1 on diamond goby - great job sifting and not messy

 

[stlcards14]

I was just concerned with it running out of food

 

[ilikefish34]

I was just concerned with it running out of food

It most likely will... I kept mine in a 180 for a few years and he cleaned to bed out to next to nothing but I was fine with that trade off to get a gleaming white aragonite. Found that sinking pellets were the best food to slip past the other fish and allowed him to get enough to keep good weight on. I lost him in the move and plan on getting a pair when my 210 is up and running. Definitely need a perfectly secure top and should be treated with prazipro for internal parasites. If they come in from the wholesaler in good shape, are properly treated in QT, have the right tank mates and a have a secure top, then they will live for years.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[tonyda1st]

Looking to get a diamond goby myself. I had a star but i think my puffer killed it. Got a diff goby but does not touch the sand

 

[stlcards14]

I currently have two flame angels in QT so it will be another month or so before I can get the goby but I think When the time comes I'm going to go with a yellow watchmen goby and hopefully it pairs with my new pistol shrimp. I'm assuming for this the QT process it needs sand and that I need to throw out the sand between TT? (that's a lot of wasted sand if that's the case) how susceptible to disease are they and are they easy to feed while in QT or is that going to be a challenge as well?

 

[jhentr]

I currently have a yellow watchmen goby and a few of them in the past. They pair great with pistol shrimps but they won't clean your sand like a diamond goby will. They'll eat what you offer out of the water column but they will not shift your sand. On the other hand, I never seen diamond goby pair up with pistol shrimps either. I guess you'll have to choose what you want.

IMO, they are easy to feed and not susceptible to diseases. I had a QT with two clowns and a YMG and the clowns were covered in ICH and the YMG didn't show any signs (externally anyways).

 

[stlcards14]

Is there a way I can do both or is it a one or the other kind of thing?

 

[Eville]

You've got plenty of room in your 180 for both imo.

 

[stlcards14]

Will I be able to QT them at the same time?

 

[Eville]

You can monitor them at first. Have some egg crate on hand if you need to separate them. Make sure the holes are small enough to keep them from getting through as well. I think they will do fine.

 

[Irishdolphin]

I was just concerned with it running out of food

I target feed mine using pipette / turkey baster. Once I drop food in for the rest of the fish and they are busy I use the pipette to target feed the DG (frozen mysis / brine shrimp) on the bottom and he loves it. The other fish soon finish up their food and come down for some also but he's gotten his share first!

 

[ilikefish34]

You've got plenty of room in your 180 for both imo.

agreed.

and to clarify about the sifter having enough food. what I mean is that it will clean out the sand bed to the point that it, eventually, it won't be enough to sustain the fish on its own but with regular feedings it should be fine. the trade off with sifters is that you do not have an active sand bed full of inverts but it does look nice and clean. it's a trade that i'm good with.

mike

 

[nitr8]

I have two shrimp/goby pairs that I highly recommend. They keep the sand pretty clean in and around their burrow but thats about it.

Yasha Goby and Randalls Pistol Shrimp
Dracula Goby and Randalls Pistol Shrimp

 

[Dodger745]

How is quarantine recommended for a diamond goby? Since a lot of their diet is from a developed sandbed? I'd like to add one to my 180, however I have two different tangs, a coral beauty, and two different pairs of clowns already. I don't want to chance bringing in a parasite to my system!

 

[ilikefish34]

How is quarantine recommended for a diamond goby? Since a lot of their diet is from a developed sandbed? I'd like to add one to my 180, however I have two different tangs, a coral beauty, and two different pairs of clowns already. I don't want to chance bringing in a parasite to my system!

As with any purchase in the LFS, try to see if they're eating in the store. If so, then you should be fine while it's in QT and if not, then I would pass on the fish. I would add a tupperware container with some clean substrate to the QT so that it can replicate its natural behavior. Oh, and a perfect lid or will take a flying leap! They're great fish but need prazipro since they are so prone to those internal parasites. You can also treat with copper to treat ich to keep it from being introduced to your Dt.

Good Luck
Mike

 

[baxinabox]

Another thing to remember is to have fine sand if not it will hurt the goby when he tries to sift the sand.

 

[stlcards14]

Can you define "fine sand"