What Goby is best for my 60gal???

Silverfin · 09/26/2007, 05:26 PM

Well, my 60gal tank has been set up for quite a while now and my tank is just about ending its cycle of algae growth. All my fish are doing very well and I am noticing the beginnings of coralline on my rocks. I noticed that I am getting a lot of algae on the sand and was wondering, what type of sand-sifting goby would be best?
To give a little more background, I have an established 20gal refugium with A LOT of copipods (included w/ Caulerpa and small mangrove trees), a protein skimmer, and some live rock. My fish include:

1 Yellow Chocolate Mimic Tang
1 Maroon Clown fish (with host Bubble Tip anemone)
1 Allen's Damsel fish
1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Peppermint Shrimp
A few snails, blue hermit crabs, and 1 sand sifting starfish.

I am planning on getting a blenny and maybe a Long nose Hawkfish (since i just love 'em and I have been told many times that they are peaceful compared to other Hawkfish). What kind of Goby would be big enough to not be eaten by the Longnose, but still small enough for my tank?

Any help appreciated!

kuoka · 09/26/2007, 06:30 PM

I have a Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby. He does fine in my tank. i even trained him to eat pellets and flake. Just make sure he's big enough that he won't be intimidated by the Longnose. Note these goby's will make a home for them under the LR so make sure you have a deep enough sand bed for that.

Silverfin · 09/26/2007, 06:44 PM

How deep would you say the sand bed would need to be for this goby? As of right now, I have a 3 1/2 in deep sand bed....

seapug · 09/26/2007, 06:48 PM

If you are looking for sand sifters, the yellow head sleeper kuoka mentioned is good. Also twin spot signal gobies are very active sand sifters (do best in pairs). You could also try a watchman goby and pistol shrimp (tend to stake out one cave, though).

Silverfin · 09/26/2007, 06:59 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. ^_^

Dr Begalke · 09/26/2007, 07:12 PM

yellow heads are the best sand sifters i've had...
many of the others (watchmens) dont sift much

mine always learn to eat flake food too..

3.5 inches of sand is plenty.

be prepared to have him dump the sand where he pleases though!

kuoka · 09/26/2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xaire`
How deep would you say the sand bed would need to be for this goby? As of right now, I have a 3 1/2 in deep sand bed....

That should be deep enough. Just enough so that it can burrow under a rock. Good luck.

kuoka · 09/26/2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Begalke
y
be prepared to have him dump the sand where he pleases though!

Very true!

Victor1046 · 09/26/2007, 07:25 PM

Careful on the gobbies, hope you have a top on your tank...
they love to carpet surf!!!!

ACBlinky · 09/26/2007, 07:28 PM

One caveat - I had a beautiful pair of sixspot sand-sifters that lived in a 65g with several other fish, including a pair of saddleback clowns. When the clowns matured and became a true pair, they became suddenly violent, killing several tankmates in the space of a week. By the time I had another tank purchased and set up (about 48h), the clowns had gone from ignoring the gobies, to disliking them, to pursuing them actively and eventually killing both.

I'm not sure if a single female maroon would act the same way, but my maroon pair is even nastier than my saddles were and there's no way I'd house a goby in the same tank as these two, unless it was several hundred gallons or more.

Other than possible issues with tankmates, a sand-sifting goby would be a fun choice for a 60g. You might have to spot-feed the goby to keep it fat; these guys have a fast metabolism and many starve to death. I inject mysis and other meaty foods under the sand using a 24" homemade pipette and my current sixspot is a FAT, happy fish that's been with us for nearly a year.

petoonia · 09/26/2007, 07:56 PM

I think the orange spotted diamond gobies are active sifters as well. I have a pink spotted watchman and he only sifts around his cave.

09/26/2007, 05:26 PM	#1
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	What Goby is best for my 60gal??? Well, my 60gal tank has been set up for quite a while now and my tank is just about ending its cycle of algae growth. All my fish are doing very well and I am noticing the beginnings of coralline on my rocks. I noticed that I am getting a lot of algae on the sand and was wondering, what type of sand-sifting goby would be best? To give a little more background, I have an established 20gal refugium with A LOT of copipods (included w/ Caulerpa and small mangrove trees), a protein skimmer, and some live rock. My fish include: 1 Yellow Chocolate Mimic Tang 1 Maroon Clown fish (with host Bubble Tip anemone) 1 Allen's Damsel fish 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp 1 Peppermint Shrimp A few snails, blue hermit crabs, and 1 sand sifting starfish. I am planning on getting a blenny and maybe a Long nose Hawkfish (since i just love 'em and I have been told many times that they are peaceful compared to other Hawkfish). What kind of Goby would be big enough to not be eaten by the Longnose, but still small enough for my tank? Any help appreciated!

09/26/2007, 06:30 PM	#2
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	I have a Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby. He does fine in my tank. i even trained him to eat pellets and flake. Just make sure he's big enough that he won't be intimidated by the Longnose. Note these goby's will make a home for them under the LR so make sure you have a deep enough sand bed for that. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

09/26/2007, 06:44 PM	#3
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	How deep would you say the sand bed would need to be for this goby? As of right now, I have a 3 1/2 in deep sand bed.... __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag, Last edited by Silverfin; 09/26/2007 at 06:52 PM.

09/26/2007, 06:48 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	If you are looking for sand sifters, the yellow head sleeper kuoka mentioned is good. Also twin spot signal gobies are very active sand sifters (do best in pairs). You could also try a watchman goby and pistol shrimp (tend to stake out one cave, though). __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/26/2007, 06:59 PM	#5
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	Thanks for the suggestions. ^_^ __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

09/26/2007, 07:12 PM	#6
Dr Begalke Moved On Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: OH Posts: 246	yellow heads are the best sand sifters i've had... many of the others (watchmens) dont sift much mine always learn to eat flake food too.. 3.5 inches of sand is plenty. be prepared to have him dump the sand where he pleases though!

09/26/2007, 07:25 PM	#9
Victor1046 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delray Beach FL Posts: 427	Careful on the gobbies, hope you have a top on your tank... they love to carpet surf!!!! __________________ Victoria Current Tank Info: 110Gl, 2X250 MH 2X96W ACT , PS, 2 Tom Clowns, bi-color blennie,flame angel, brain, colt, BTA, Xenia, Red & Yellow Zoe, Green Boniopora, Red Cynarina, Trumpet, Hammer Coral, mushrooms, leather,

09/26/2007, 07:28 PM	#10
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	One caveat - I had a beautiful pair of sixspot sand-sifters that lived in a 65g with several other fish, including a pair of saddleback clowns. When the clowns matured and became a true pair, they became suddenly violent, killing several tankmates in the space of a week. By the time I had another tank purchased and set up (about 48h), the clowns had gone from ignoring the gobies, to disliking them, to pursuing them actively and eventually killing both. I'm not sure if a single female maroon would act the same way, but my maroon pair is even nastier than my saddles were and there's no way I'd house a goby in the same tank as these two, unless it was several hundred gallons or more. Other than possible issues with tankmates, a sand-sifting goby would be a fun choice for a 60g. You might have to spot-feed the goby to keep it fat; these guys have a fast metabolism and many starve to death. I inject mysis and other meaty foods under the sand using a 24" homemade pipette and my current sixspot is a FAT, happy fish that's been with us for nearly a year. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

09/26/2007, 07:56 PM	#11
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	I think the orange spotted diamond gobies are active sifters as well. I have a pink spotted watchman and he only sifts around his cave. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef