Twinspot Goby

[Calappidae]

I purchased a pair of these at the LFS two days ago. I figured they're the same as any other goby but after them not eating the mysis I gave them.. did some research and I'm getting mixed results from they live no longer than 2 weeks, people had pairs in their tanks for years, they not that difficult, shouldn't even be collected, etc etc.

I was wondering if anybody could provide me with some more updated info. Currently being paraguard treated in a 10g quarentine tank with 20lbs. of live sand.

 

[ThreeMoneyJ]

I bought a pair a long time ago and made the mistake of listening to the LFS employee who said they were easy to keep and feed. They both slowly withered away and starved.

They need a fine substrate that is well populated with life for them to eat. I never saw mine show any interest in any food I presented.

 

[bluecoyote79]

I've had luck getting wrasses to eat by starting them on frozen fish eggs. I am using a little packet of Rod's Food fish eggs. It's not super nutritious but it gets them eating.

 

[snorvich]

IMO twin spot gobies are difficult except in very large tanks that are well established. In the wild, they tend to be on the sand bed under docks, overhangs, etc.

 

[Paul B]

Very difficult fish almost impossible in a normal tank. Needs fine sand that it can sift for live creatures.

 

[sc50964]

Do you have live sand and paraguard at the same time? I think that will kill the living bacteria inside the sand.

 

[Calappidae]

Do you have live sand and paraguard at the same time? I think that will kill the living bacteria inside the sand.

I do, and I expected it too but ironically aiptasia is growing in the same tank like crazy. (Unless they're affected differently)

The tank they will be going in is a 125 gallon with a 2" deep live hawaiian black sandbed. It's been running for about a year now. Refugium is the main filteration.


If it's not something impossible to keep like horseshoe crabs/sand sifter stars for example, then I'll give it a go. Otherwise I might just return them and tell them what I heard about their difficulty. (The person at the lfs told me their manager had the same pair in his tank for a couple of years)

 

[sc50964]

I've tried about half a dozen times over the past 8 yrs and never had luck with them. Tried single and two with deep sand bed. Still no luck. IMO, they don't belong in home aquariums.

 

[Calappidae]

What was the longest you guys had them?

 

[ThreeMoneyJ]

It sounds like your set up may be able to support them. I have the same sand in 1 tank and I think it may actually be too course for them.

 

[Calappidae]

One of them just ate frozen mysis.

I think this might work out.. anybody get them to eat before?