Hard time with Gobies

[borderreef]

Why am I having such a hard time with gobies? First clown goby went into the tank after qt, never to be seen again. Next were an orange spotted, a high finned banded, and a clown. The clown lasted two days in qt. I have not seen the high fin, but the orange spotted became a smack for my coral banded shrimp today. I have a yellow eyed kole's tang, a mexican rock wrasse, and a maroon clown, none of which paid any attention to the gobies that actually made it to the tank. What am I doing wrong? My DT parameters are all stable and well within acceptable limits, I qt with nsw at the parameters of my lfs, then slowly perform water changes with water from my DT to acclimate the fish to their new home.

 

[doggydoc]

They ususally hide until the feel comfy in their new surroundings. Plus if there is ANY fish thats harrassing them they will hide forever. I placed a dracula goby in my tank 3 weeks ago...seen him twice...

 

[Green_Lionfish]

They ususally hide until the feel comfy in their new surroundings. Plus if there is ANY fish thats harrassing them they will hide forever. I placed a dracula goby in my tank 3 weeks ago...seen him twice...

I am about to get goby. I am afraid it's going to be the same case. Are all gobies like this? or only certain sp?

 

[borderreef]

I don't mind if they hide and are healthy. At least would know they were there. But when one doesn't last two days of qt, and I'm watching the coral banded shrimp munch away on another, it's a bit disheartening. I love these fish and want some, they have such unique personalities, but I'm staying away till I figure out what I'm doing wrong. I hate buying fish only to have them die. Not what this hobby is about.

 

[ilikefish34]

1. The Shrimp may have eaten them all... why stop at just the one?
2. There could be another invertebrate predator in the tank... check it out from time to time at night with a flashlight.
3. Had a friend with similar issue with small fish. I asked him if he checked his over-flow but his empties right into a filter sock that is bound with plastic ties. He found some bones.
4. Still could be the wrasse. Thallasoma wrasse species tend to show aggression, boldness and have voracious appetites. While yours seemed to ignore them, it is still possible for this fish to be the culprit.

Whatever the answer is, I hope you find it.
Good Luck,
Mike

 

[HumbleFish]

1. The Shrimp may have eaten them all... why stop at just the one?

My CB shrimp got relocated to the frag tank for just this reason. Just can't trust them with small, slow fish.

 

[borderreef]

My CB shrimp got relocated to the frag tank for just this reason. Just can't trust them with small, slow fish.

Yea, I'll pobably move the CB next time I'm ready to try again. I also have a rogue mathrix crab in there that I've been trying to catch. Even though the wrasse never paid attention to the new additions, I was hoping they'd find a little nook to hide in just in case.

 

[Paul B]

I have about 20 or 25 fish and probably half of them are gobies which are a sturdy easy to keep fish. Many of mine are spawning and living about 10 years, what are you feeding them?

Some types of gobies are almost impossable like twin spot gobies. Clown gobies are not as easy as some gobies but I don't have a problem with them as I feed them new born brine shrimp and live worms. I think mine will spawn in a week or two. But you must feed these guys correctly.
Many of the sand sifting gobies wil starve in a clean or new tank or, like my tank, a tank with gravel instead of sand. For that reason, I don't keep them.

 

[myfrostymember]

gobies don't travel a lot unless they are the larger sand sifting species- my yellow never left his cave except for a few exceptions- how large is the tank? if you have a'lot of rock work you might never see them again if they are in the back somewhere just chilling- i made the mistake of getting a small yasha and i havn't seen him since day one - i assume he died but for all i know he could be in the back somewhere