The overly industrious sifter

[seamonster124]

I've had these guys before but never seen one this productive. Somehow he knows not to hurt corals. He's piling up sand around frags but he is making a big mess. Would adding another bottom dweller calm him down? Say a large tiger jawfish?

 

[IronMonkey]

Wow, that is ambitious. Mine never even travels with the sand he picks up. He just picks it up and sifts it out right there... Good luck with that one LOL

 

[tennesseebob]

I understand, my new one has been in my display 3 days and has dug under every rock that it can, even made a tunnel in the sand, like a small arch...I don't even know how he did that, at work, if the arch is still there when I get home ill snap a pic.

 

[mneddy]

I've had one like it, the bigger he got the bigger mounds got.

 

[seamonster124]

He is out of control. Made a video. This guy is nuts!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XWRc0FaRxgI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ray68]

I just got my first goby Saturday night. He is very ambitious also hope he slows down soon.

 

[snorvich]

Don't count on them slowing down. With corals especially, sand sifters in general are often not a good idea.

 

[tennesseebob]

Lol, yeah, just got home, tunnel was gone, and my 6" zoa frag was too, had to dig it out and get it off the sand, well, he is doing what I paid him to do I guess lol

 

[Forced 2 Farm]

I would say that he isn't very fond of you aqua scape! so he decided to build Goby mountain.. lol

 

[drauka99]

Mine is constantly opening and changing the hole to his burrow and moving to different areas. I do love how clean he is keeping my sand bed.

 

[dakar]

Got one that moves enough sand around that it actually warranted tearing everything apart and placing all rockwork on PVC sections 1" above the sandbed... now he can build sand mountains and tunnel all he wants and will not bring down the rock on his head.

 

[seamonster124]

Got one that moves enough sand around that it actually warranted tearing everything apart and placing all rockwork on PVC sections 1" above the sandbed... now he can build sand mountains and tunnel all he wants and will not bring down the rock on his head.

Thats why I put the rock on eggcrate first then added sand.
Looks like he is done building his main burrow. Now he is just sifting without carrying the sand. Maybe he'll stop here.

 

[outssider]

"Maybe he'll stop here. "....he...he...

that's his job .....he'll never stop :spin1:

 

[seamonster124]

Maybe another bottom dweller will claim some of the tank and keep the overly industrious sifter in his own territory?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

That fish is a trip! :lmao: I love watching the video, he actually takes a look at where he needs more sand. He even went in his nest to feel if he needed anymore put in there. Love it.

My sand goby is a Hector's and he is always busy actually sifting sand. He grabs a mouthful and processes it over his gills to catch what he wants to eat out of it. The only bad thing is it gets sand all over everything. Other than that he is a great fish, gets along with everyone but will bow up to the Cherub Angel LOL it's fun to watch.

 

[MrsReefK]

Look at him go! Such a hard (proud) worker!

 

[MJV0103]

That was awesome to watch, busy little bulldozer

 

[tennesseebob]

Thats why I put the rock on eggcrate first then added sand.

Looks like he is done building his main burrow. Now he is just sifting without carrying the sand. Maybe he'll stop here.

Yeah, I originally put all my rock on eggcrate before adding my sand, so I'm ok with his antics, I just have to find new places for my sand bed corals [emoji28]

 

[Indymann99]

Don't see any problems... so he built his own mountain. He's not swimming to the top and and dropping sand all over your corals. Your sand bed is pristine... all good to me. My Orange Diamond Goby is on of my favorite fish, one of the few fish that earns his keep.

 

[seamonster124]

This fish has been my #1 favorite since before I had a reef