Those with diamond gobies

[Sisterlimonpot]

I was looking at getting a diamond goby for my 125 just to help out with keeping my sand bed (1.5") clean of detritus. Those of you that have them can you share your experience with them? Like:
Do they keep the sand clean?
Are there any things I need to watch out for?
Are they aggressive? Timid?

 

[blumoon reefers]

My diamond goby (Dug) keeps the sand immaculate. When I first got him, I will admit to being a little perturbed about the sand storm, but that has settled with time.

They are jumpers - absolutely need a canopy or cover for the tank (yes, I lost the first one (Digger) to carpet surfing).

Mine doesnt seem to be either timid or aggressive - except if I wear a red shirt in front of the tank - then he charges the front glass and goes and hides.

Great personality - he will pick up hermits and move them to the other side of the tank if they get to close to his burrow and loves to be cleaned by the cleaner shrimp - mouth wide open - looks like he is at the dentist

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Thanks blumoon reefers,
I'm hoping that he helps with keeping the sand clean because I have 2 dead spots in the sand that detritus seems to take up residence.

 

[blumoon reefers]

Oh, he will definitely keep the sand clean.

 

[will16]

yup, will definitely keep the sand clean. Never had any problems with them. Will sift sand and eat anything i put in the tank. No aggression at all.

 

[MrRyanT]

I completely agree with both blu and will. Mine seemed quite timid when first added to the tank, but after just a couple weeks or so he settled in and was out and about doing his thing after that.

 

[Decaco]

i guess u guys just use that eggcrate to cover your tanks. i was thinking of either a diamond or tigerward goby. both are jumpers right?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Everywhere I've read they are definitely jumpers.
You can use the egg crate or netting to keep them from carpet surfing.

 

[bphelps81]

i had 2 jumpers on the same day!! both diamond...tank in now covered!

 

[PRDubois]

They are great fish

 

[RealReef7]

My canopy is a open back canopy and everytime I added one I could never find it. Finally when I decided to upgrade my tank I found my 2 gobies dried up in the back Another good goby you should look into is the sleeper banded goby they always kept my sand clean!

 

[SaltyFishUs]

Are these safe with Pipefish? I was told if I wanted Pipefish I had to get rid of my Watchman gobie.

Anyone want to chime in on this one?

 

[RealReef7]

Depending on how small the pipe fish is. My watchmen will go at anything that can fit into its mouth.

 

[ultimatemusky]

My diamond is too efficient with the sand, he buries everything on my sand bed. He has completely shifted my rock wall causing rocks to fall, corals to shift position. If I change anything back he goes right to back to work making it his tank not mine. Sand looks great, even though it's all over my corals. I hate him...big mistake bringing him in.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15618626#post15618626 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultimatemusky
My diamond is too efficient with the sand, he buries everything on my sand bed. He has completely shifted my rock wall causing rocks to fall, corals to shift position. If I change anything back he goes right to back to work making it his tank not mine. Sand looks great, even though it's all over my corals. I hate him...big mistake bringing him in.

last night I was trying to remember if I put my rock in the tank first or if I filled it with sand and then rock. Because that occurred to me that if he moves the sand it's going to weaken the foundation and topple over aquascaping. I'm about 90% sure I put the rock in first....

 

[ultimatemusky]

The worst of it is the sand all over the corals, He has really ticked off several prize colonies of acans that were really happy on the sand bed. The rocks will still be more unstable if yours does the same thing mine does. The sand added after the rock is holding the rock formation in place, remove that sand and guess what...rocks will move, especially if you have added any more rock since the initial set up. Not trying to scare you off, but IME it was a BAD addition that I regret. Benefits did not offset the pain in the neck he has been...I hate him

 

[wondermidget]

I love my (Goober) gobbie, he keeps the sand very clean, is fun to watch and so far hasn't gone any where near the top of the water so I dont' think I have to worry about him jumping out.

 

[PRDubois]

If you get one, you cannot leave stuff on the sand or it will get covered

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

yeah I don't have anything on the sand bed that will get covered

 

[dawaterboy]

If you have fine sand and a lot of flow you might not like the sand storm you will get most of the day.