Question about Gobies!

[Wildorca]

Hi everyone!
I have a Pink Bar Goby and have thought about getting a candy cane pistol to pair with it.
However, my husband saw a Randall's Goby at the LFS and fell in love with it. Can you have more than 1 type of Goby in your tank. I know some species can be territorial.
Thank you!

 

[bdunn12]

Yes I believe so. I currently do with no issues (firefish and scissor tail goby).

 

[Sk8r]

You ask---but how big a tank?

 

[Wildorca]

Sorry Sk8r! It's a 26g Bowfront.

 

[Sk8r]

That's real close quarters. I would say you'd be fine with the pair (though I never trust pistols, after mine killed my watchman) but don't try another shrimp goby pair---go for another sort of goby or the tailspot blenny, which is a very amusing fellow.

 

[Wildorca]

I meant to say if we opted to get a Randall's goby, I wouldn't get the pistol shrimp.
We may just hold out awhile. My husband really wants a mandarin goby once the tank more mature with a good supply of copepods.

 

[Sk8r]

I'm sorry: the mandarin goby isn't really a goby: it's a dragonet, and you cannot keep one in a tank smaller than 50 gallons, and then a very small one, and also with 20 gallons of mature fuge raising food for it. It would rapidly starve to death in anything less. They eat only live crustaceans that grow and multiply in a refugium, and they eat many thousands a day. THere's no time when they're awake that they're NOT eating. OTOH, you two could talk about upsizing over time. If you had a 100 gallon tank with sump, you could have your mandarin and all the gobies and blennies you want. Plus others.

 

[lacybiker2000]

Quote: I'm sorry: the mandarin goby isn't really a goby: it's a dragonet, and you cannot keep one in a tank smaller than 50 gallons, and then a very small one, and also with 20 gallons of mature fuge raising food for it. It would rapidly starve to death in anything less. They eat only live crustaceans that grow and multiply in a refugium, and they eat many thousands a day. THere's no time when they're awake that they're NOT eating. OTOH, you two could talk about upsizing over time. If you had a 100 gallon tank with sump, you could have your mandarin and all the gobies and blennies you want. Plus others.

They are right. Mandarins are my favorite fish and I've not been able to have one due to tank size issues. When I first started out I had a 30 gal...had it up for about 1.5 years with a HOB fuge and supplemented pods...lost the Mandarin in about a month (so sad)....they need a huge amount of space for food to grow.

 

[Frostyfishman]

Firefish goby is a dartfish not a true goby, so that would be a way you can go.

 

[Wildorca]

Thank you for your feedback! We do plan on getting a larger tank later on. So, we'll add a mandarin goby to the wish list for that one!

 

[Sk8r]

Very wise.
Fish your 30 can support: dartfish (with lid!!! they go airborne)---little tailspot blenny, but feed green flake for him; small gobies, no sandsifters; clown pair; royal gramma or chalk bass (not both)...look for what are called 'nano fish', which just means real small. Unfortunately some of the tiniest fish are exotic feeders (the court jester goby is one) that are hard to keep alive, but there are some real colorful and hardy fish that make good 'starting-out' tankmates that may, who knows, still be with you when you get that larger tank.

 

[finewayne]

I don't see it being a problem, and I would add two of the same species of gobies in hopes of getting a pair. I would try different species too. I doubt there would be many problems, and think you should give it a go.

 

[johnike]

I'd skip the pink bar and get the Randalls and the Pistol.
I have several small gobies that all get along fine.

 

[Wildorca]

Very wise.
Fish your 30 can support: dartfish (with lid!!! they go airborne)---little tailspot blenny, but feed green flake for him; small gobies, no sandsifters; clown pair; royal gramma or chalk bass (not both)...look for what are called 'nano fish', which just means real small. Unfortunately some of the tiniest fish are exotic feeders (the court jester goby is one) that are hard to keep alive, but there are some real colorful and hardy fish that make good 'starting-out' tankmates that may, who knows, still be with you when you get that larger tank.

Thanks Sk8r! Are Royal Grammas kinda territorial? The guy at the LFS tried talking me out of getting one because he said they can be aggressive.
Ironically, he's the one that recommended the 6 line wrasse and azure damsel. The azure damsel was killed by the 6 line, and the 6 line is now back at the LFS.
I only have the Pink Bar and an Ocy Clownfish in my tank now.

 

[Sk8r]

I have never had trouble with the true royal gramma, which is a basslet. There is a lookalike dottyback which is the beast from...well, it's a dottyback. Look up pix on google. I had (in a 50) 3 redstripe highfins, and it didn't go well: the odd man out was just sad, and while nobody bit, there was constant stress with the 3 over several months, and the third one just disappeared and never came out again. So a pair is one thing, but if you don't have a pair, don't, is my advice. Better solo than odd man out, with gobies. I have also seen evidence of very strong pair-bonding---my YWG female rushed to the aid of the male, who had lost consciousness and was on his side during a tank crisis from which I rescued them. She nudged him upright and kept doing it until he came to and was fine thereafter---they're wonderful fish, the goby class, shy in the presence of big fish, but real charmers in a tank where they're the top of the chain.

 

[Frostyfishman]

Thanks Sk8r! Are Royal Grammas kinda territorial? The guy at the LFS tried talking me out of getting one because he said they can be aggressive.
Ironically, he's the one that recommended the 6 line wrasse and azure damsel. The azure damsel was killed by the 6 line, and the 6 line is now back at the LFS.
I only have the Pink Bar and an Ocy Clownfish in my tank now.

Stop taking advice from those people

 

[madweazl]

There are a few species of shrimp gobies that generally get along with other shrimp gobies; tangaroa, yasha, and the hi-fin banded are typically ok together and can share a burrow. The Randall's is said to be similar in temperament but mine didn't like other gobies of any variety. I've also had good luck with multiple pistols (in a 26g no less).