I've got a Goby under my Fungia.

1F2FRFBF · 06/21/2007, 10:47 PM

So I'm gazing at my tank this evening while I'm talking on the phone, and I notice a poof of sand coming from around my orange fungia. Now, the first thing that went through my head was, "Is the fungia trying to move itself?" I remember reading somewhere that fungia were capable of shifting their positions, albeit slowly - and maybe now I was witness to it?

Then I gave it a closer look and saw that there were two new piles of sand on opposite sides of the fungia. And then I saw movement underneath. OK, what new critter is this? The actinics were on, so I grabbed my trusty flashlight and shone it into the visible opening in the sand under the fungia. And looking back at me was my new Rainford's Goby, who is maybe about an inch and a half long at this point.

Now, will this ultimately harm the fungia? Or can coral and goby live side-by-side (vertically) in harmony?

edwing206 · 06/21/2007, 11:05 PM

I think they will be fine. I love those gobies.

drummereef · 06/21/2007, 11:05 PM

Wow, what a nice surprise! I think they should be ok unless the goby is throwing sand all over the fungia. I would take a baster and make sure sand doesn't collect on it.

hankthetank · 06/21/2007, 11:23 PM

Fungia live in the sand.What happens when a storm hits?They get buried.Then they dig themselves out.Sand on a substrate dweller like Fungia bothers the aquarist more than the coral!

1F2FRFBF · 06/22/2007, 09:14 AM

Thanks for the replies, everyone. My concern was whether the goby taking up residence under the coral might eventually be an irritant to it, but hankthetank, you've got a good point. I'm worrying needlessly about stuff that probably happens in the wild all the time.

This was the best shot I could get. You can just about see his nose.

06/21/2007, 10:47 PM	#1
1F2FRFBF Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 456	I've got a Goby under my Fungia. So I'm gazing at my tank this evening while I'm talking on the phone, and I notice a poof of sand coming from around my orange fungia. Now, the first thing that went through my head was, "Is the fungia trying to move itself?" I remember reading somewhere that fungia were capable of shifting their positions, albeit slowly - and maybe now I was witness to it? Then I gave it a closer look and saw that there were two new piles of sand on opposite sides of the fungia. And then I saw movement underneath. OK, what new critter is this? The actinics were on, so I grabbed my trusty flashlight and shone it into the visible opening in the sand under the fungia. And looking back at me was my new Rainford's Goby, who is maybe about an inch and a half long at this point. Now, will this ultimately harm the fungia? Or can coral and goby live side-by-side (vertically) in harmony?

06/21/2007, 11:05 PM	#2
edwing206 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shoreline,Washington Posts: 4,518	I think they will be fine. I love those gobies. __________________ The name's Luis. :) Current Tank Info: 50G cube

06/21/2007, 11:05 PM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Wow, what a nice surprise! I think they should be ok unless the goby is throwing sand all over the fungia. I would take a baster and make sure sand doesn't collect on it. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

06/21/2007, 11:23 PM	#4
hankthetank Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 161	Fungia live in the sand.What happens when a storm hits?They get buried.Then they dig themselves out.Sand on a substrate dweller like Fungia bothers the aquarist more than the coral!

06/22/2007, 09:14 AM	#5
1F2FRFBF Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 456	Thanks for the replies, everyone. My concern was whether the goby taking up residence under the coral might eventually be an irritant to it, but hankthetank, you've got a good point. I'm worrying needlessly about stuff that probably happens in the wild all the time. This was the best shot I could get. You can just about see his nose.