Sand Sifting Goby

[Sheldon337]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a nice sand sifting goby from O St.

Since moving in, he has been making the water very cloudy and dust storms torment the tank all day long.

Is there anything I can do?

Also, I have had a sand sifting starfish for about 2.5 years in this tank. Is there enough for them both to eat? The goby has been snacking on Brine shrimp already. . .


Thanks Much,

Lee

 

[shiveley]

It's a "sand-sifting" goby, what did you expect? And they feed all day long so, depending on your tank size, they just might strip mine your tank.

 

[Cbrewer]

Im assuming you got one of the big Blue Line Gobies they had there? I got one of those a couple of days ago and...yeah...sand stays stirred up, but theres no loving on keeping the water clear.

 

[funman1]

They will eventually stir up all the "light" sand and then it will get caught in your filters.
So in a gew weeks you should only have heavy sand and he won't make near as much "dust"

HOWEVER they will continue to rearange the tank as they see fit, and will CONSTANTLY sift sand all day every day.

That's what they do.

 

[Sheldon337]

Ah, good to know Funman. I think its starting to get better already.

What about the rule of only one sand sifter per tank?

Do i need to get rid of my starfish? It would be pretty hard to tell if he is starving.

Lee

EDIT: No, its not a blue one, its an orange spotted/ Prawn goby.

 

[shiveley]

sand-sifers

sand-sifers

mine make intricate tunnels under all my rockwork, which makes me a little concerned about stability. and i think that they've pretty much wiped out my pod and annelid populations. they just never stop feeding...
they also dive under the rocks as soon as they spot me, so I have to sneak up on the tank just to get a good look at them.
they are very attractive and interesting though (when I do get to see them).

 

[Unarce]

The Diamond Goby is a nice option, as they don't rise up much to release the sand.