I am interested in getting a non-burrowing (or less-likely-to-burrow) goby with a lot of personality for my 55gal FOWLR. I say non-burrowing because I want to be able to watch the fish, not wonder if it's alive or not because I haven't seen it in days... know what I mean? I was just wondering what others' opinions were on the subject... thanks!
Goby Selection
- Thread starter kilroy217
- Start date
reeferstace
I'm a little people
Scissortail gobies. They sleep under rocks at night but my three are out swimming all day. They stay pretty close to each other too.
Megeverhart27
New member
My uncle has a Cryptocentrus leptocephalus "Pink Spot Watchman Goby" and loves it. It hides in the rocks at night and cleans almost constantly during the day. If you make sudden movements in front of the tank it will retreat to its hiding place but mostly it is a very active fish that is fun to watch.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/206728/product.web
On the other hand, most of the shrimp gobys I have seen burrow a lot. Its cute to watch them do it but once they are gone, it could be days before you see them again.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/206728/product.web
On the other hand, most of the shrimp gobys I have seen burrow a lot. Its cute to watch them do it but once they are gone, it could be days before you see them again.
JEFFR259
New member
I recently got a Diamond Goby to help keep the top layers of my DSB clean. He's not the prettiest Goby I've ever seen, however he is an absolute workshorse and I see him ALL the time.
It was funny, the moment I dropped him in the DT after drip acclimation, he was bulldozing through the sand! Cleaned it ALL overnight
He appears to be a burrower (he's made a couple "tunnels" for himself), but he is rarely hiding. Plus, it's funny because my Coris Wrasse is constantly no more than 2" from the Goby's face as his shovels sand...hoping to catch a few scraps that float away, lol
It was funny, the moment I dropped him in the DT after drip acclimation, he was bulldozing through the sand! Cleaned it ALL overnight
He appears to be a burrower (he's made a couple "tunnels" for himself), but he is rarely hiding. Plus, it's funny because my Coris Wrasse is constantly no more than 2" from the Goby's face as his shovels sand...hoping to catch a few scraps that float away, lol
acrouse
New member
I would also recommend a Diamond Goby if you are interested in a busy body. My Goby was digging tunnels in the sand constantly. It is amazing how much sand they can move one mouthful at a time. Just make sure you provide a hiding place (like space under a rock) near the front of the tank and the goby will likely take to that spot. Mine only hid at night time, otherwise almost always busy moving sand. They are jumpers so keep your tank top covered.
good luck
jolene
good luck
jolene
Qdaddy
New member
By far the Diamond Goby. Always busy moving substrate around. Only went into rocks at night or if spooked. Will cover up stuff though but by far the coolest fish to watch. They are jumpers though for sure. I lost three before giving up on them. The last one made it through egg crate somehow. If I ever get a closed tank this fish will be the first one in.
JEFFR259
New member
Glad to see everyone echo's the sentiments of the Diamond Goby.
+1 to being jumpers...have a canopy or top or screen.
Hopefully when you set up the tank, you put the Live Rock directly on the bottom of the tank and then filled in with the sand. If not, this little guy will cause a LR avalanche. They dig deep and will move LOTS of sand. If you put sand in first then LR, he will dig the sand out from under the LR and you will have a catastrophe
VERY fun fish to watch. Mine is not skittish at all. Only downside to them is that my water is kinda cloudy all day because he's CONSTANTLY stirring the sandbed, which is a pure white now
+1 to covering stuff up too. He's always throwing sand on my Plate Corals and other goodies that sit on the DSB.
+1 to being jumpers...have a canopy or top or screen.
Hopefully when you set up the tank, you put the Live Rock directly on the bottom of the tank and then filled in with the sand. If not, this little guy will cause a LR avalanche. They dig deep and will move LOTS of sand. If you put sand in first then LR, he will dig the sand out from under the LR and you will have a catastrophe
VERY fun fish to watch. Mine is not skittish at all. Only downside to them is that my water is kinda cloudy all day because he's CONSTANTLY stirring the sandbed, which is a pure white now
+1 to covering stuff up too. He's always throwing sand on my Plate Corals and other goodies that sit on the DSB.
ser_renely
Active member
all depends on tank mates as well.
Get a royal gramma....LOL
Mine has burrowed in underneath my clowns anemone and comes out all day....He is cool though
For gobies-
I also have a dragon goby that sifts constantly. He is ugly, but does a good job (in my opinion, too good) of sifting. He constantly covers frags up that I have on the sand bed, along with a large rock of zoas that sit on the sand.
The pink spot in my avatar was a sweet fish - he had a ton of personality. He could be a bit aggressive though, so if that is a concern, the orange spot would be preferable. I wish I had kept my first 55 going just for the pink spot goby.
HTH,
Ron
Mine has burrowed in underneath my clowns anemone and comes out all day....He is cool though
For gobies-
I also have a dragon goby that sifts constantly. He is ugly, but does a good job (in my opinion, too good) of sifting. He constantly covers frags up that I have on the sand bed, along with a large rock of zoas that sit on the sand.
The pink spot in my avatar was a sweet fish - he had a ton of personality. He could be a bit aggressive though, so if that is a concern, the orange spot would be preferable. I wish I had kept my first 55 going just for the pink spot goby.
HTH,
Ron
Tank mates are: 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 baby-sized blue hippo tang, 1 banggai cardinal, 1 longnose hawkfish
considering slowly adding: some kind of goby (obviously), flame or coral beauty angel (not both), copperband or auriga butterfly (after tank is more established). That's probably it - 8 fish for a 55 gal FOWLR seems appropriate bioload. IF I don't go for the butterfly, I might try a royal gramma.
Yes, the tank is covered. So, jumping is not a HUGE concern.
What about not having a deep sand bed? OR any sand in the QT? Is that a problem?
considering slowly adding: some kind of goby (obviously), flame or coral beauty angel (not both), copperband or auriga butterfly (after tank is more established). That's probably it - 8 fish for a 55 gal FOWLR seems appropriate bioload. IF I don't go for the butterfly, I might try a royal gramma.
Yes, the tank is covered. So, jumping is not a HUGE concern.
What about not having a deep sand bed? OR any sand in the QT? Is that a problem?
Qdaddy
New member
My sand bed is only 2-3 " and he never had a problem finding substrate to use. As far as QT they will eat mysis and other shrimp also. He would always come out during food time and gobble up as much as any other fish. They are real hardy fish I personally wouldn't keep in QT to long. They are not like a tang or something that is highly susceptible to ich. IMO I had two ich outbreaks and they never got it once.
