New Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby

stantheman

New member
OK guys help me out here as I am new to gobies but really do love to watch the sleeper gobies. I just bought this one tonight and as always seems like no matter how much you read you seem to learn more undesirable attributes right after you buy them. Now I want to keep the fish I have a 2 month old 55 gal corner set up FOWLR 4 inch sand bed with lots a brown for him to take care of. Here's my problem I come to find that they are carnivores and I have 10 Nassarius snails. Are they going to be competing for food? Can I have some sort of live food that can breed faster than they can eat without having to feed extra? How about copepods? Don't really understand what they are or what but could they out produce the intake? I want this fish to not only make it but thrive. Thanks and please let me know how you keep yours alive. Btw he hasn't been seen since I put him in my tank 2 hrs ago except for the first 2 min where he was already sifting sand like a mad fish!
 
You can just get them on prepared/frozen foods, and then you don't have to worry about your sand bed sustaining them on it's own. The drawback to such fish is that they take a major toll on the microfauna in your sand bed.
 
OK I have heard that about the micro fauna. Firstly what is the purpose of micro fauna? Second, how would I go about getting him to eat frozen food. The reason I bought him is I want him stirring up the detrius on top and slowly releasing the nitrates from my sandbed. Is it a bigger disadvantage to lose your micro fauna?
 
Sounds like you were going for a deep sand bed at 4". Do a search for "deep sand bed" or DSB and read up on all the advantages and disadvantages. Just offer him small amounts of food once you see him come out. He'll still stir up the sand. They can't help themselves ;)
 
Will he know that what's in the water is food though unless I do some sort of training to get him to see it as food or will it just suck up the leftovers off the bottom. My concern is that my Nassaurius snails may beat him too it
 
The Goby should have no problems competing with the snails. Also, you make want to investigate all of that "brown". Sounds like some extra nutrients in there. This fish that can jump with the best of them so make sure there are zero gaps. Very cool fish and wish you the best of luck with him.

Mike
 
Thanks so much these fish seem to be less "aggressive" With sand cleaning than the orange diamond one which I like and I think it looks much cooler! I'm excited about the fish I hope I makes it through the first couple weeks here after that I can relax ha
 
Just fed the tank and he was out didn't see him take any food but he was sifting so that could be why. Also my royal gramma hates him and gapes at it almost all the time but it doesn't ever hit it or go after it just gapes like crazy when it's out my guess would be because they are of similar shape.
 
I have attached a picture of the only gaps in the top. I'm sure it could jump but hopefully it won't I don't know how I would fill those gaps. I just hope he's not a carpet surfer I guess...:worried:
 

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I have attached a picture of the only gaps in the top. I'm sure it could jump but hopefully it won't I don't know how I would fill those gaps. I just hope he's not a carpet surfer I guess...:worried:

It can and will jump through that opening; just a matter of when :/ You can fill it with black electrical tape or something similar. But get them covered either way!
 
OK thanks I just covered it up with some Styrofoam for now hope that works I just cut out the shape and slid it in around everything
 
so what's your suggestions should I slightly "overfeed" so some hits the bottom for him? I hear horrors about them slowly starving to death I don't want that. Also my grammar is evil
 
so what's your suggestions should I slightly "overfeed" so some hits the bottom for him? I hear horrors about them slowly starving to death I don't want that. Also my grammar is evil

I would suggest getting a feeding tube if you don't have one. Something like the Kent Seasquirt Feeder. Target feed it until it is comfortable. After a while, it should have no problem competing for food.
 
How would I go about that if when I walk up to the tank too fast it disappears into the rocks or will it get over that after a while?
 
I feed mine with an aquarium plant grabber. I put a small piece of prawn and put it near it's face and it will eat it. I think they have bad eye sights as it takes them few times to actually find the prawn!!!
 
OK I bought a sea squirt target feeder today as I have always wanted one anyway and will be trying to feed it frozen mysis Thanks so much guys keep them coming as I am sure more people are looking for ideas from reading forums
 
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