Stonogobiops feeding behavior

[Fredfish]

First off, thanks for your most recent article in RK mag.

You caught my attention when you mentioned that this species feeds from the water column. I have been looking for a goby that will not sift through the sand bed, decimating the invert population there.

What does this genus feed on in its natural environment?

I was also fascinated to learn that this goby does not dig tunnels on its own. Since I want to put it into a seagrass tank which will have an enriched substrait, I was looking for a fish that would cause minimal disturbance to the substrait.

If I am to provide this fish with its tunnel, where should it be located, in an open area, next to or under rocks, right in the seagrasses? I want to provide a home that the fish will be comfortable with.

Thanks for your help.

Fred.

 

[Sloeber]

First off, thanks for your most recent article in RK mag.

my pleasure.

What does this genus feed on in its natural environment?

an assortment of food otherwise referred to as plankton. various larvae, pods, etc. basically anything that floats by and looks appetizing.

If I am to provide this fish with its tunnel, where should it be located, in an open area, next to or under rocks, right in the seagrasses?

usually pistol shrimp burrow at the edge of rockwork or underneath rocks. therefore,t he goby is used to this setting. if you wanna create the tunnel, have the entrace at the edge of rockwork.

HTH

henry

 

[Fredfish]

Thanks Henry, this helps a lot.

So basically, this goby would be a food competitor with seahorses and pipefish.

On the rockwork, does it need to be any partucular size or will one or two small rocks do the trick? Since I am working with a 65 gallon setup and the tank will be dominated by seagrass and a mangrove, I don't want to take up a lot of room with rockwork.

thanks again.

Fred.

 

[Sloeber]

technically, sure, the goby will eat the same live foods as seahorses. but then again, so will most marine fish that is why many believe seahorses need a species dedicated aquarium.

however, the goby doesn't eat that much

just a couple small rocks will work. if you are going with a small amount like this, though, be sure to build a large home for it underneath those rocks. an open sandbed affords no protection to this species so the added hiding room will be appreciated.

HTH

 

[Fredfish]

I would also Imagine that the goby will stick close to its burrow so if I feed the seahorses at the opposite end of the tank I sould have no problems.

Would interconnected pvc pipe (T connector) and several entrances work or should it just be a longer tunnel. I have read that the shrimp they associate with can have tunnels up to 4 feet but I do not know if they would have more than one entrance.

Fred.

 

[Fredfish]

Something else occured to me. Would other shrimpgobies like Amblyeleotris, Cryptocentrus also be non diggers? Being in Canada, the sellection is not quite as good as in the US and I would like to keep my options open.

Thanks again.
Fred

 

[Sloeber]

the shrimp generally maintains one burrow, although burrows are closed and/or built on a nearly daily basis.

generally speaking, shrimp-gobies will not burrow.

HTH

 

[Fredfish]

Thanks again for answering my questions. I re-read the article and found the answers to most of my questions

I will be providing the goby with what is essentially a small rubble pile and will try to give it as close to a foot of tunnel as I can. Hopefully that will make it comfortable with its surroundings.

Fred.

 

[NicoleC]

Henry,

Thanks for the great article. I recently aquired a pistol shrimp/watchman goby pair, both juveniles, who seemed well matched. Unfortunately this was before I read your idea for helping keep them together when acclimating, and the pistol vanished and left the goby alone and looking a bit bewildered.

I still have some fading hopes they may find each other yet, but AFAIK the pistol is making a home in one of the many rock hideyholes I have (he's still moving around, judging by the snapping sounds), or at least there is no sign of excavation. The goby has found the PVC home that I hoped both of them would use as a temporary den while getting used to the tank.

Since I failed at keeping that team together, are you aware of any information which might help me get a mate for my goby? Since he is quite young and small, I was wondering if gobies were hermaphrodidic like clowns -- perhaps I could find another juvenile in hopes of a pair? Most of the gobies I see are much larger, but there's always that chance find.

I love my goby and wouldn't mind having two even if they don't pair -- they have room and hideyholes for separate territories. But it would be nice if I had two to share this roomy cave "Ben" has claimed.

Thanks,
Nicole

 

[Sloeber]

hi nicole,

Since I failed at keeping that team together, are you aware of any information which might help me get a mate for my goby?

unfortunately, no. trial and error is likely your best bet.

Since he is quite young and small, I was wondering if gobies were hermaphrodidic like clowns -- perhaps I could find another juvenile in hopes of a pair?

you can't really generalize gobies. the family is way too diverse for such a generalization.

while researching stonogobiops for the column, i was unable to find any evidence one way or another. more than likely this is yet another genus that needs further research before one could definitively answer this question.

the good part is even if they do not pair up it is more than likely they will still co-exist.

HTH

henry

 

[NicoleC]

I was afraid you were going to say all that!

Thanks for the input.

 

[DensityMan]

First things first, Great article Henry. I was honored that you chose to use several shots of my little pair. I wish I'd have been able to switch tanks before sending pics though, as the pair of them are MUCH more comfortable in their placement within the 75g tank.

I'm not sure what I did better/differently for them in this new setup, but they seem to love it and are MUCH more secure (ie - they both wander farther from home).

The area of rockwork I placed them near in this tank has Tonga branch rock on the glass, 5-6 inches of sand on top of and around that framework with 10lbs of reef rubble seeded throughout and then roughly 25lbs of Live rock supported by the branch rock framework, as well. After hiding for the first night in a shell, they got busy building the next morning and haven't really stopped in three days.

In the past this pair has had one burrow system with at least three 'rooms' and always one entrance. That one entrance tended to move slightly every few days though until about 3mos after they had been introduced. After that time the entrance changed seemingly only in appearance.

They are great fun to watch and a treat to have in the tank overall.

A couple questions to end with... I'm something of a goby 'nut' and have heard conflicting reports on wether two similar species could be held together in a space as small as this 75g. I have a lead on a couple of yasha gobies and another A. randalli shrimp.

- Would the gobies leave one another alone?

- Is there a possibility they would all bundle up together?

- Do I risk 'losing' the new shrimp to the current shrimp as a mate or worse as competition?

Thanks again!

 

[DensityMan]

As far as diet goes (the suject of the thread I ignored... sheesh ), mine have gone CRAZY fr cyclop-eeze, enriched brine and mysis shrimp. The A. randalli loves shrimp pellets (when I can smuggle him one past the cleaner shrimp) and he has not ever been fed by his partner fish while I've been able to see them. /shrug

 

[Fredfish]

thanks DM.

Seems a lot of fish, particularly finnicky eaters like Coclopeez. Gonna have to get me some when I set up the tank.

Fred.

 

[Sloeber]

DM,

sorry for my delayed repsonse. things have been hectic lately. school sucks

First things first, Great article Henry. I was honored that you chose to use several shots of my little pair.

thank you! your pics we an awesome addition to the article and the entire RK staff is appreciative of your efforts!

your pics that you attached aren't showing up for me

- Would the gobies leave one another alone?

more than likely, yes. however, there really is no clear-cut answer. all you can really do is try and watch carefully. if it were me, though, i wouldn't be concerned and would try to mix them.

- Is there a possibility they would all bundle up together?

absolutely.

- Do I risk 'losing' the new shrimp to the current shrimp as a mate or worse as competition?

absolutely.

HTH,

henry

 

[DensityMan]

Having 'issues' with the (former) web-host. Attaching images now (plus a few bonus images from tonight)

 

[DensityMan]

number 2...

 

[DensityMan]

number 3...

 

[DensityMan]

'bonus' pic from tonight

 

[DensityMan]

more of the new guys...