Smallest reef-safe peaceful sifting goby?

[Charley Diesing]

I'm looking for a small, reef-safe, peaceful, sandsifting Goby. Going into a 40 breeder. Also I have very fine sand.

Also should I QT it like anything else?

Thanks,

Charley

 

[snorvich]

I recommend against. It will deplete your sand bed of beneficial organisms and then starve, additionally, most sift sand over corals.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I agree... a common small sand sifter is the two spot signal goby but they have a bad track record. Gold head sleeper gobies and diamond gobies are good in captivity if you get them from a good source but I wouldn't recommend them for a tank under 4'.

A pistol shrimp and watchman goby will move some sand and keep their area clean.

 

[Reef264]

I have a diamond goby in my tank, he keeps my sand clean.Also keeps particles in the water nonstop, between it, and the fighting conch, sand stays white and clean of debree, and apparently bacteria.

 

[Charley Diesing]

I recommend against. It will deplete your sand bed of beneficial organisms and then starve, additionally, most sift sand over corals.

What do you mean?

 

[Charley Diesing]

I agree... a common small sand sifter is the two spot signal goby but they have a bad track record. Gold head sleeper gobies and diamond gobies are good in captivity if you get them from a good source but I wouldn't recommend them for a tank under 4'.

A pistol shrimp and watchman goby will move some sand and keep their area clean.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+228&pcatid=228

So you think I could go with this?

Would you recommend that I QT? If I Should QT, should I just use a small tub o ware container with sand in it?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Yeah, a yellow watchman goby would be fine in your tank. It can be quarantined without sand. Keep in mind this is not a sand sifting goby though, he is a watchman. Without a pistol shrimp he will sift a small patch outside his chosen burrow but thats it. The pistol shrimp he pairs with moves much more sand. They still may not keep the whole sand bottom spotless the way a true sand sifter does but I think this is the best option for your size tank.

 

[snorvich]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+228&pcatid=228

So you think I could go with this?

Would you recommend that I QT? If I Should QT, should I just use a small tub o ware container with sand in it?

Sure. Add a pistol shrimp and you will have hours of entertainment. With very very few exceptions all fish should be QT.

 

[Charley Diesing]

Sure. Add a pistol shrimp and you will have hours of entertainment. With very very few exceptions all fish should be QT.

Alrighty thank you.

Are there any other Gobys that will go with a pistol shrimp?

Also will a Pistol shrimp and a Fire cleaner shrimp fight?

Thanks,

Charley

 

[snorvich]

Alrighty thank you.

Are there any other Gobys that will go with a pistol shrimp?

Also will a Pistol shrimp and a Fire cleaner shrimp fight?

Thanks,

Charley

No, pistol shrimp and fire cleaner shrimp will not fight. Best to choose Alpheus randalli as the pistol shrimp although some others are going to work as well. these as it lists many that are commensal with pistol shrimp as well as many which are not.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Gobies of the genera Cryptocentrus, Amblyeleotris, and Stonogobiops pair with shrimp.

 

[ReeferBill]

check out Randell Shrimp Goby!