Sand sifting goby

[dzhuo]

Looking to add a small sand sifting goby that does not broadcast sand (you know one that takes a mouth of sand, swim up to mid-water and split it out). Any suggestions?

 

[dzhuo]

Anyone?

 

[blennielove]

Tiger Sleeper Goby = Valencienna wardii

I have one now and he is a doll. He acclimates easily and doesn't bother anyone in the 55 gallon reef tank and he shares his space with an orange spotted blenny, two aurora gobies, possum wrasse, and melanurus wrasse.

He spends his day sifting sand and doesn't carry it up and scatter it like you describe. He does MOVE the sand around though, so you have to not mind him redecorating a little.

 

[reef_doug]

Diamond Spot goby just sifts the sand. The sleeper goby carries it and spits it out.

I had a Diamond spot for years, great fish and really kept the sand clean in my 180 gal, until I added a flame hawk that pestered him to death by not letting him eat pellets. Just my experience, you need a lot of sand and no other pestering fish to keep them long term since they will need additional food then just fauna alone.

 

[kookie_guy]

my green watchman goby doesn't spread it around. He'll make mounds for himself to perch on, but they are generally local, meaning he does not get sand from one side of the tank and move it to other side. He also keeps it all on the bottom. Never carries it up the rocks.

 

[dzhuo]

My tank is 150g so I hope it's big enough for him. Any idea where I can purchase a diamond spot goby online? LA is out of stock I believe.

 

[dafunkyman]

If you want an orange spot, dont make the mistake I did. Buy the right orange spot. What I mean is that there are two orange spot gobies. An Orange Spotted Goby and an Orange Spotted DIAMOND Goby. Huge difference, get the diamond. the diamond sifts and the non diamond sits and stares into space and you will think he is dead. The way to tell the difference is that the diamond has blue spots on his cheek while the non diamond has dark dark red coming on his cheeks.
Diamond
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+220&pcatid=220

non diamond
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+195&pcatid=195

He spits sand at first to make a home and then he starts to sift. If my diamond sees food and is sifting at the same time, he will go for the food with a mouthful of sand. Other than that, he sifts on the bottom.

 

[dzhuo]

Thx for the info dafunkyman. The orange spot diamond goby is definitely on my short list. Now I just need to find a reputable online vendor who will sell me one. Any suggestions?

 

[cmtbears21]

I cannot recommend highly enough the orange spotted diamond goby. I had one in my 92 corner and not only did he keep the sand clean, but he was hilarious to watch!

I purchased mine from a LFS, so I cannot comment on an online vendor...but I have ordered from Liveaquaria, Saltwaterfish and Blue Zoo. Blue Zoo I had a problem with the order getting to me too late (it was a FedEx shipping problem) but they credited my account right away. My Liveaquaria orders all went well, I would purchase from them again

-Matt

 

[Whisperer]

A highfin sleeper goby behaves and looks like a diamond goby (except for the markings on the dorsal fin) but is cheaper. They stay on the surface of teh sand when sifting. I have a yellow headed sleeper goby in another tank. He swims up midtank abd starts spitting sand on top of corals. He's a PITA but I like him.

 

[dzhuo]

Are you talking about this Hi-Fin:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+181&pcatid=181

or a different one?

 

[Whisperer]

No, sorry, I meant longfin sleeper goby, not highfin. Check saltwaterfish.