Sand sifting gobies

KyleP

New member
Alright, I've done a bunch of reading on sand sifting gobies, and its led to mess of confusion. I read that some are very difficult to get to eat prepared foods. I've heard that others will eat prepared foods easily. I've heard that some will take gulps of sand, head towards the top of the tank and drop the sand....not cool. I had a two spot a couple of years ago that slowly starved to death because he wouldn't take any food. So I'm asking all of you in the know about these guys to help pick out the easiest, most hardy sand sifting gobies to keep in a 75 gallon reef with about three inches of established live sand. Thanks a bunch!:)
 
Here is a pic of my orange diamond goby.He is a hard worker and will create a few sand storms but eats prepared foods as well as sifts and is a pretty cool fish to watch.


By
By kman71
 
My Gobies

My Gobies

I have a diamond goby and a yellow watchman goby. I will answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Diamond goby, love this fish. When you first add it, you will have a sandstorm. The larger your tank the longer it will last, got that bit of info from another reefer who's tank is larger than mine. It will reaquascape on a regular basis, if you are particuar about your sand being just so, pass on this fish. If you want spotlessly clean sand, he's your guy. Mine stopped piling sand up into hills and valleys after appx. 6 months, still sifts like a madman, I think he knows how it annoys me. :rollface: They like to make tunnels underneath your rockwork, they will continually build and rebuild these, I think it is his favorite passtime. From day 1 he has eaten anything I offered, hard to feed you say, not in my particular case. He is very sweet, I have not had any aggression issues.
Yellow watchman goby, I have not had this guy as long, mine is still rather small. He does sift on a much smaller scale. Kicked up no sand into the tank. No reaquascaping from him. I do not think this fish will keep my sand bed tidy, in this tank I will have to continue to rely on my nasarius snails. He eats well, what ever I offer as well. This one is very timid is easily frightened and will scoot under the rock work. For looks, IMO this one has it over the diamond, but if your grading for work, the diamond is a powerhouse and get an A+.
Both have their good points and drawbacks but I have never been disapointed, love them both. :)
 
Here's the pair of Dragon/Brown Banded Gobies I'd since 2006. They started in a 75g and now they're in the 180g.

IMG_4595.jpg
 
My Valenciennea sexguttata, it eats all varieties of food I put in the tank and sifts regularly, has not been overly active at rearranging the tank, but has piled some sand up around the rock it sleeps under.
sandsifter.jpg
 
My favs are the gold headed sleepers & pink spotted gobies, for there size and character. Both very hardy and always on the bottom sifting or watching.
 
I had a tiger watchman that didn't make much of a mess and ate prepared foods from the start, also enjoyed carpet surfing.
 
I have Two engineer Gobies also called a Convict Blenny. They are in my 90 gallon tank and do nothing sift all day. I do have a 4-5 inch sand bed and please don't be stupid like me.... Put you rock in first then the sand. They toppled some rocks over there first day but i since have removed everything and redone my landscape so all is good now. Good Luck.
 
diamond gobies will not swim to the top with a mouth full of sand...i wouldnt go with any other...mine have always eaten frozen brine too...
 

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