Twinspot Gobies Revisited

[MechEng99]

Yes, Twinspot Gobies have been on the "do not attempt" list for quite some time...but have there been any really serious attempts lately to keep them?

The reason I ask is that there's a pair locally that are eating frozen, and I think if anyone has a chance to keep them long-term, it might (just might) be me.

I have a 150g display with about a 3-4" fine sandbed with a 50g sump/refuge...total system only houses 3 leopard wrasses (I've had two for over a year.) I have a dedicated QT/treatment tank where I treat all fish with PraziPro and hyposalinity. I hatch brine shrimp regularly and have access to a wide variety of foods. The 150g is a year old, and the wrasses all eat pellet/frozen/anything that hits the water (there's still a ton of microfauna/pods/whatever).

I've been in the saltwater hobby for 6 years and in the aquarium hobby for about 25 years. I've got just about every medication known to man around.

So...saying all that, are they still doomed b/c they still won't get the right nutrition? I hate this...I know they have practically no survival rate, but I also don't want to see someone with a 10g nano get them either. I feel like someone has to try... sheesh....what to do.....

Thanks for the help.

 

[DustyReefer]

Well I've heard many a rumor about them, one thing saying that they do best in pairs and such. I definitely believe that if you have a 150 established tank with only peaceful tank mates that you would be correct, they have a much better chance in your tank than anybody elses haha. I do the same thing... save fish from people who would otherwise kill them haha. My lfs has gotten them in a few times and I believe the people who bought them still have them and are doing well, the one pair is in a 90 gallon. So if it was me, I'd say go for it, they at least will have a better chance if not do well. Mind you I'm no expert in the area of twin spot gobies in particular, but have had good success with other hard to keep species.

 

[MechEng99]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! Wish I could find someone who has had them a while and what they did to succeed.

 

[SDguy]

If the fish are eating (actually swallowing the food) and you can get enough food to them on a constant basis (target feeding) then they should be fine. I don't think there is a nutritional deficiency thing going on with these fish. It's just that most starve.