what do use to clean your sand bed

[spinoleo]

My diamond goby died that I had for 3 yrs and my sand bed is showing its absence.The diamond goby was one of my fav fish,but I could not leave any small coral on the bottom or it would move or bury it.The other thing is I am getting an ora manderine goby would 2 different gobys be ok in a 75g tank.Other than the diamond what options would I have in sand bed cleaners?Thanks Ben

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

technically

technically

(and I HATE using common names) the Mandarinfish is a Dragonette- not a Goby. Diamond Goby sifts sand- Mandarinfish doesn't.

 

[DiazE]

Cucumber

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

for general cleaning purposes I would recommend a sandbed cleaning type cuke as well. Make sure to research cuke species. (Tom @ TRS has a "good" one in his 180 display.)

If cyano is the problem a small queen conch might be a better option.

 

[Tabasco]

Could you provide more clarification? If a sand sifting goby sifts and the dragonette doesn't, does that mean they would not be in competition for food stuffs? Could you keep both without starving the dragonette?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Could you provide more clarification? If a sand sifting goby sifts and the dragonette doesn't, does that mean they would not be in competition for food stuffs?

somewhat correct depending on how much food is in the aquarium.

Could you keep both without starving the dragonette?

it depends on the aquarists skills and aquarium size/pod population.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Here's what I use every couple of weeks:

 

[TheRealRuk]

(and I HATE using common names) the Mandarinfish is a Dragonette- not a Goby. Diamond Goby sifts sand- Mandarinfish doesn't.

Gary,

Do you know of a good reference?

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Gary,

Do you know of a good reference?

fishbase.org

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

fishbase is great!

here's a book that I can recommend

the problems caused by the misidentification of marine life cannot be overestimated!

 

[spinoleo]

pods are not a problem I have a 40g fuge and pods are all over my glass but when I had the goby it would get a little territorial when anything would swim near the bottom of the tank.I guess the question is are all diamond gobys aggressive.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

good question!

good question!

all of the sand sifting gobies I ever had were passive...... which made it difficult to keep them well fed.

 

[spinoleo]

mine would grab snails and spit them up higher on my rocks including taking small shells or rocks and spitting them at my tuxedo urchin when it was on the sand

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'd like some gobies with attitude!

 

[daveverdo]

My Diamond Goby also moved snails quite often. He would chase hermit crabs too. It had a "this is my turf so get out" attitude. Never really went after other fish.
Dave

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've noticed that my many bristleworms clean the top of my sandbed every night. In the morning it looks as though my sandbed has been raked.