Need help finding Gobie

[SuperDaveA]

I need some help figuring out what kind of Gobie to put in my 12 gallon nano tank. The tank will eventually have a pair of clowns and a few corals. I had wanted a Yellow Watchman Gobie but he looks like he might get too big or end up starving to death after he plows through my sand bed. Honestly a Catalina Gobie would be perfect except it is said to be a cold water (60-70 F) fish although I have a friend who says he kept a pair in his tropical reef tank for 2.5 years. They apparently died when he did a big tank move to a new apartment.

My requirements are:
- Reef safe
- Colorful (my sand bed is white and my 6 month old only gets excited by fish that are standout colorful!)
- Will not outgrown 12 gallon nano tank
- Not expensive (this will literally be my first saltwater fish)

Thanks!!

 

[Phsycodelic81]

yellow watchmen should be fine in a 12 gallon and they are not sand sifters so it will not starve and they make interesting pairings with pistol shrimp

 

[klepto]

I need some help figuring out what kind of Gobie to put in my 12 gallon nano tank. The tank will eventually have a pair of clowns and a few corals.

I would avoid putting a pair of clowns into a tank that size. Even if you buy them small they will grow fast and become territorial.

yellow watchmen should be fine in a 12 gallon and they are not sand sifters so it will not starve and they make interesting pairings with pistol shrimp

Many of the other Watchmen gobies will require a tank more towards the 30 gallon volume.

I agree that the right Yellow Watchmen (Cryptocentrus cinctus) would be a good option. They will shift the sand, just not to the extent of the other sifting species.

I like all of ORA's options for Gobies.
http://www.orafarm.com/gobies.html

I recently added one of their Sharknose Gobies (Elacatinus evelynae) to my tank and couldn't be happier. My goby constantly cleans my other fishes. It also readily accepts prepared foods. All of the tank raised Elactinus sp. gobies are great candidates for small tanks.

 

[snorvich]

I would avoid putting a pair of clowns into a tank that size. Even if you buy them small they will grow fast and become territorial.



Many of the other Watchmen gobies will require a tank more towards the 30 gallon volume.

I agree that the right Yellow Watchmen (Cryptocentrus cinctus) would be a good option. They will shift the sand, just not to the extent of the other sifting species.

I like all of ORA's options for Gobies.
http://www.orafarm.com/gobies.html

I recently added one of their Sharknose Gobies (Elacatinus evelynae) to my tank and couldn't be happier. My goby constantly cleans my other fishes. It also readily accepts prepared foods. All of the tank raised Elactinus sp. gobies are great candidates for small tanks.

Excellent advice in all regards.

 

[SuperDaveA]

My LFS actually orders their yellow watchmen gobies from ORA. They said they could get one for me if I wanted. Sounds like this is a good option.

 

[klepto]

Excellent advice in all regards.

Thanks Steve!