Looking at sand sifting options in a 34g

[oigimsar]

I would like to get a sand sifting goby for my 34g. I have looked at the orange diamond gobys and they do a great job but I think they get too big for my tank.

I have looked at the two spot gobys but they seem difficult to keep alive unless they are eating frozen food.

I have seen an orange marked goby on sites like liveaquaria but have never seen one at a store and haven't found much information on them.

Does anyone have experience with this fish?
Are there any other recommendations you would make?
I already have quite a few snails. I have also looked at the fighting conch but also was not sure about the size of the tank.

Thanks.

 

[E.intheC]

I agree with you that the first goby mentioned is much too large for your tank. I'd look into some of the sand sifting snails and manually stirring the sand bed if you're trying to keep the sand clean. If you choose a goby he is likely to create a nice sand storm

 

[oigimsar]

Thanks for the response.

The reason I was looking at the orange marked goby as opposed to the orange diamond goby is because it is supposed to stay much smaller (4" max instead of 6") but I have not read of anybody's actual experience with them???

 

[velvetelvis]

From what I've seen, these gobies tend to starve unless they're kept in large, well-established aquariums with thriving sandbeds and no competition. There's a store fairly close to where I live that has a sand-sifting goby in a 600-700G display, and he still looks alarmingly skinny.

Get a few cerith snails and a nassarius snail or two, and stir the sand manually every so often. That's what I do, and I've had no problems keeping my sand clean.

 

[small alien]

I have a Rainford's goby that is relatively small and sifts sand but doesn't depend on it entirely for food. Also eats nutramar prawn roe with vigor. They can be a little touchy but mine is awesome and fat as heck. A stunning little fish with great colors and a cool way of swimming. Great fish.

 

[LisaD]

I have a high fin red banded goby with a tiger pistol shrimp in a 12 gallon nano cube. The fish is about 2.5". It's colorful and active, if a little shy. Not expensive at all, leass than $20. Lots of personality, and the fish/shrimp combo results in a lot of sand being moved around.

This isn't mine, I'm a rotten photographer:

Goby

Tiger pistol shrimp

I also have small nassarius snails and scarlet reef hermits that do a decent job of keeping sand stirred.

 

[oigimsar]

I have a Rainford's goby that is relatively small and sifts sand but doesn't depend on it entirely for food. Also eats nutramar prawn roe with vigor. They can be a little touchy but mine is awesome and fat as heck. A stunning little fish with great colors and a cool way of swimming. Great fish.

How good of a job does the Rainford do with the sand? I have seen these before and liked the looks of them but didn't realize they were sand sifters.

I have a high fin red banded goby with a tiger pistol shrimp in a 12 gallon nano cube

My son and I put together a 12g NC and we have a yasha / pistol pair in together. They are great to watch but I am trying to get something that will also keep the surface of the sand clean.

 

[b2d2t]

what about a golden-head goby?

 

[oigimsar]

what about a golden-head goby?

I hadn't looked at those because I thought they needed a bigger tank.
They are a great looking fish. Have you had one in a smaller tank? Do you know if they take special care?

 

[small alien]

I am quite sure they need a bigger tank.

 

[oigimsar]

I am quite sure they need a bigger tank.

I have been researching some more and am convinced they are too big for my situation. The same with the orange diamond goby.

I had an interesting conversation with the owner of my LFS. I was asking him about the diamond goby and if it would get too big for my tank. He responded "not usually". I asked him what he meant and he said they almost never live long enough to get too big...so, I have decided for sure against those.

I am still looking into the rainford goby. I like them a lot but haven't seen them in any store. Does anyone have any more experience they can share about them? Would they be a problem with my dartfish (i.e. - firefish goby)?

 

[small alien]

My rainford's pays no attention to my pair of firefish. firefish stay right by their bolt hole. Rainford's roams the whole tank.

try liveaquaria.com. they often have Rainford's. Or ask you LFS to order you one. trouble is, they're often skinny by the time the hit the store. I happened to get a chubby one and it eats roe and mysis and has been F&H for 6 months or more. Great fish. Try hard to find one in good shape and you won't regret it. good luck.

 

[oigimsar]

Thanks. I will start looking. There is an LFS a little drive away from me that does a good job of finding healthy stock when I ask. I will give them a call.

Do they need to be "trained" to eat mysis or will they naturally sift the sand and eat mysis?

 

[small alien]

Good idea, LisaD. (goby/pistol shrimp).

I've only had the one Rainsford so I can't necessarily generalize but I did not need to train it to eat frozen.

It eats nutramar prawn roe with great vigor and I would strongly suggest getting some if you're going to try this fish. It eats some mysis, but with less vigor.

Cheers.

 

[oigimsar]

Thanks again for the help. I have some good ideas of what to research and start looking for.