New 2 Spotted Goby Not Eating

Eric55 · 01/28/2007, 05:44 PM

I have a new 2 spotted, sand sifting goby who is not eating much of the flakes, pellets, and Arcti-pods I have given him.

Is there anything I can do to help him get through the acclimation to his new home? I've had him for about 36 hours.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Eric

Joshua1023 · 01/28/2007, 06:18 PM

I love those fish. Unfortunately, I've had two of them croak on me. I'll be tagging along for any suggestions. I'd love to keep one succesfully.

bassettmd · 01/28/2007, 06:45 PM

I have heard that the 2 spot signal gobies (aka four wheel drive goby) does alot better when they are kept in pairs... but that is the little bit i know. I would assume however that you need a decent size tank with a lot of sand

REMF · 01/28/2007, 06:48 PM

Have you tried soaking some flake or even better some mysis in some garlic juice? It entices some fish to eat.

Dubbin1 · 01/28/2007, 06:50 PM

Give it time to get adjusted to its new home before you start worrying.

KyleP · 01/28/2007, 10:10 PM

I had one for about two months before he disappeared. I have nothing in my tank that would attack him. He basically died from starvation. I only got him to eat once, and that was about two days before he disappeared. He ate while I spot fed him mysis and brine with the lights off and some daylight coming through. They supposedly need specific fauna in the sandbed to sift out and I guess many home reefs do not have that fauna. I won't buy another one and would advise others not to either. Just not good odds on survival.

slider162 · 01/29/2007, 01:29 PM

I have been researching them as well. Most of the Internet stores say they eat flake, pellet, and mysis. According to about.com their primary diet is pods like a Mandarin. Otherwise there isn't a lot of information.

edwing206 · 01/29/2007, 02:21 PM

they need a lot of pods to eat in the sand bed. they also get stomach problems, i think parasties and usually stave to death. very cool fish though. good luck

teetimefun · 01/29/2007, 03:47 PM

I have an orange spotted goby who wouldn't eat. I tried cyclopeze, rotifers, bloodworms, mysis, brine, flake, pellets, and I never really saw him sift sand. I was feeding small pieces of silversides to my heliofungia and one day he came out and I waved a small piece on the end of a skewer and he attacked it like crazy. I don't know about two spot gobies but mine didn't eat for a week. Now he eats. Hope it works for you.

01/28/2007, 05:44 PM	#1
Eric55 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 490	New 2 Spotted Goby Not Eating I have a new 2 spotted, sand sifting goby who is not eating much of the flakes, pellets, and Arcti-pods I have given him. Is there anything I can do to help him get through the acclimation to his new home? I've had him for about 36 hours. Thanks for any suggestions! Eric

01/28/2007, 06:18 PM	#2
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	I love those fish. Unfortunately, I've had two of them croak on me. I'll be tagging along for any suggestions. I'd love to keep one succesfully. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

01/28/2007, 06:48 PM	#4
REMF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 669	Have you tried soaking some flake or even better some mysis in some garlic juice? It entices some fish to eat. __________________ Really honey, this will be the last thing I need for my reef. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, T5ho. 46 Gal bow FOWLR, 20 Gal L 250w mh reef.

01/29/2007, 02:21 PM	#8
edwing206 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shoreline,Washington Posts: 4,518	they need a lot of pods to eat in the sand bed. they also get stomach problems, i think parasties and usually stave to death. very cool fish though. good luck __________________ The name's Luis. :) Current Tank Info: 50G cube

01/28/2007, 06:45 PM	#3
bassettmd Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NorthEast Posts: 710	I have heard that the 2 spot signal gobies (aka four wheel drive goby) does alot better when they are kept in pairs... but that is the little bit i know. I would assume however that you need a decent size tank with a lot of sand

01/28/2007, 06:50 PM	#5
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Give it time to get adjusted to its new home before you start worrying.

01/28/2007, 10:10 PM	#6
KyleP Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 252	I had one for about two months before he disappeared. I have nothing in my tank that would attack him. He basically died from starvation. I only got him to eat once, and that was about two days before he disappeared. He ate while I spot fed him mysis and brine with the lights off and some daylight coming through. They supposedly need specific fauna in the sandbed to sift out and I guess many home reefs do not have that fauna. I won't buy another one and would advise others not to either. Just not good odds on survival.

01/29/2007, 01:29 PM	#7
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	I have been researching them as well. Most of the Internet stores say they eat flake, pellet, and mysis. According to about.com their primary diet is pods like a Mandarin. Otherwise there isn't a lot of information.

01/29/2007, 03:47 PM	#9
teetimefun Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St. Louis Posts: 281	I have an orange spotted goby who wouldn't eat. I tried cyclopeze, rotifers, bloodworms, mysis, brine, flake, pellets, and I never really saw him sift sand. I was feeding small pieces of silversides to my heliofungia and one day he came out and I waved a small piece on the end of a skewer and he attacked it like crazy. I don't know about two spot gobies but mine didn't eat for a week. Now he eats. Hope it works for you.