Topic: rainsford goby

[PelagicMagic]

I have been trying to find info on rainsford gobies. I saw some nice ones at Fishmaniac today but I want to read up on them before I buy one. Does anyone have experience with these fish? They are great looking fish. If anyone has a link to literature that would be great

 

[Bennihanna]

They need large established sand beds and filamentatious algae.

 

[PelagicMagic]

i have the SB but not too much algae. What else will they eat? Its a very pretty fish and I don't see them that often at the shops

 

[Qwiv]

They are a very shy fish and never get big. If you are going to keep them with more aggressive fish you need a tank that can support them with algea and pods as they will never get to the food you feed the tank as the other fish will scare them off. I would say anything more than and including a blenny/clown would over run them. If you keep them in a very calm tank, they have a fair chance of learning to eat what you feed the tank and do better.

They are a difficult fish to kep on average. If you have a stocked tank with enough life to support them then you will most likely not see them much which is a killer for me. If your tank could support a Manderin, then a ainford would be happy I think.

Also, sometimes a rainford can hold his own pretty well. I have seen one or 2 that will eat fine in a small stocked tank and mix it up with the other fish, but would consider them a rare find.

 

[PelagicMagic]

very rare find indeed. I have been looking for a long time. However I have a 180 with 18 fish. I also have a 5 inch vlamingi tang who likes to eat ghost shrimp that are the same size as the goby. I would put him in my 55 but its only been running for a month. I think they are best in a nano

 

[SSweet1]

They are really nice small fish and they will go completely under your sandbed if scared. I gave mine to Pat when I got my big tank because I was sure my big hippo tang would eat him. They look more like a wrasse but are in the goby family and very docile. Mine ate the frozen food that I fed the whole tank.
Carrie

 

[PelagicMagic]

if you were worried about a naso, then my piggy vlamingi tang will suck one up like spaghetti

 

[M. Python]

I have one with seven tangs, two triggers, a coral beauty and a fox face no problems. When I got him he had a sunk in belly, now he is fat. He was shy at first and now I see him out all the time.

 

[floridareefs]

that is one of a very few fish I lost. Very shy timid, nothing bopthered it but it was just gone one day and I never saw it again. Very good looking fish, but I think it is definately in the one you buy.

 

[ReefNeck]

I've had one a little over a week now in my 75G. He's adorable. Always munching something and always out in view. No problems at all with my other tank mates. Beautiful little fish. Found him over at Atlantis.

 

[Bennihanna]

They are really not that rare. They are almost always on the list.

 

[floridareefs]

I agree not rare. I see them around pretty often.

 

[robwsup]

A similar species is a Hector's Goby. Instead of a gray body with red stripes, they have a black body with yellow stripes. They are a little more uncommon than the Rainford's or Court Jester.

Rainfordi sift sand and eat some hair algae. Most will eat prepared foods, and they are generally a peaceful fish.

 

[floridareefs]

Rob,

Do you ever get any of the Hector's Goby. I would like to try him in my big reef tank.

 

[mbdave]

Scott says......

Scott says......

Foods and feeding Varied diet including small crustations such as vitamin enriched frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and prepared foods for herbivores. Will typically do best with some filamentous algae and live rock. Robert Myers says......Ecology silty bases of coastal and inner lagoon reefs. Ventures out over corals and does not seem to utilize a burrow. Dave says; try to find one thats not too skinny.

 

[tbass]

Look on Dr Foster and Smith. Thats where I found the info on them. They did little to help my hair algae problem . Get some Rowsphos and a cheap battery operate tooth brush and getter done.