Cheap goby?

haywood2 · 01/03/2008, 09:51 PM

Hey all, looking for a goby or two to add to my 75 gallon tank to help turn over the sand bed. I preferably would like the ones that really do a good job cleaning, but aren't brutally ugly. They also cannot be too expensive. The tank is 75 gallons, it has been setup for over 6 months and as of now only has one green chromi. The tank has about 100lbs of live sand and 75lbs live rock. Any suggestions?

nam2212 · 01/03/2008, 10:02 PM

I would look into a Rainsford or a Hector's goby. Be sure you see it eat at the LFS before you buy it, though.

FBNitro · 01/03/2008, 10:28 PM

I like the 2 spot goby myself... but my tank is too small. I watch them clean away at the LFS in their coral tank.

haywood2 · 01/03/2008, 11:02 PM

anybody else have any opinions?

Justinandkrista · 01/03/2008, 11:14 PM

get a yellowhead sleeper goby they make a mess of sand everywhere but clean it well

cajundolphin · 01/03/2008, 11:23 PM

I have an orange diamondback goby. I think it is very nice looking and it does a great job turning over sand.

BangkokMatt · 01/03/2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FBNitro
I like the 2 spot goby myself... but my tank is too small. I watch them clean away at the LFS in their coral tank.

2 Spots are very difficult to keep due to their dietery needs. They mostly die when kept in captitvity.

bramjansen · 01/04/2008, 01:22 AM

I got tons of gobies in my 120 gallon:

Very hardy, cheap and cool:

Yellow watchman

Randall Goby

Pearl jawhead

Favorite:

Yashia Goby (makes sure it eats!)

Do not buy the scooter (twin spot) goby. Most die, even when they eat and even if you have an established tank!

dsn112 · 01/04/2008, 07:26 AM

Diamond gobies do a crazy job since all day long they sift. Problem is they don't really care whats in there way, and they will move rock, or dig under rock enough so that it falls. And they are impossible to get out. I had to pull 30lbs of lr out last week to get him out. I would stay away from a diamond.

Get a yellow watchman and a bunch of nessarius snails. That combination will do a decent job and not wreck your tank.

tcilmo · 01/04/2008, 12:34 PM

I like Diamond gobies, yes that do put sand where ever . . . I never had a big problem with mine. However that is a chance you can take. . .

rsw686 · 01/04/2008, 01:29 PM

Yep if you want a goby that will sift all day the diamond goby is the way to go. I have both a watchman goby and diamond goby. The watchman will just sift right outside his cave. The diamond moves sand all over.

Sometimes it gets annoying as it will cover the bottom corals with sand. However the sand always has that new appearance which I like.

You just have to make sure that your live rock is resting on the bottom of the tank so moving the sand around it will not make it fall.

tspors · 01/04/2008, 02:55 PM

Love my Dragon Goby, tears the place up but then puts it back a week later.

leoslizards · 01/04/2008, 03:22 PM

Shouldn't the chromis be keep in groups of 3 or more?

reefsponge · 01/04/2008, 03:37 PM

I like my yellow watchman goby, he turns the sand over right in front of his cave. That is about the only spot he does it though. For the two years that i've had him in my tank he hasn;t gone more than six inches away from his cave. I got lucky that his opening to the cave is positioned at the front of the tank. Even though he doesn't get around he is very interesting to watch, he comes off as a tough guy when other fish get to close to his pad. Deep down inside he's a pushover.

mnash · 01/04/2008, 07:56 PM

How do you quarintine sand sifting gobies? What do you feed them since in a qt tank you aren't supposed to have any sand?

haywood2 · 01/04/2008, 09:29 PM

The chromis were in a school of 5. Over the last 6 months, they have slowly killed eachother, and the snails ate the remains before I knew it. Always checked the water and it was always fine. I just bought a goby(forget what kind), has a neon blue stripe near his head and a yellowish mouth. He is sifting ALL OVER the tank... its great.

buddythelion · 01/04/2008, 10:56 PM

I beleive Valenciennea strigata is what you have.

Cope · 01/04/2008, 11:05 PM

I have the same yellow head w neon blue stripe under the eye, I was told it was a yellow watchman goby? Mine cleans all over the tank?

buddythelion · 01/04/2008, 11:23 PM

I beleive yellow watchman goby is Cryptocentrus cinctus. They form a relationship with some pistol shrimps.

haywood2 · 01/05/2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by buddythelion
I beleive Valenciennea strigata is what you have.

Pretty sure you are right. It is definitely not a watchman goby. Woke up this morning and almost my entire sand bed is completely turned over.... sweetness

scatty25 · 01/05/2008, 01:35 PM

how about some watchman gobies

esdayal · 01/28/2008, 03:22 PM

I have a yellow Watchman Goby also and for my mated pistol shrimp pair but all he does is sit infront of his cave and sift
that part only.

Skeptic_07 · 01/28/2008, 03:35 PM

my buddy has a diamond goby in his 75. it sifts the sand constantly and really made a mess of the tank when he first got it.

afish70 · 01/28/2008, 04:06 PM

i have a green clown goby. what do you guys think of it?

willper · 01/29/2008, 12:16 AM

I have a yellow clown goby. It is all over the tank. It is too small (.75inch) to cause much disturbance.

01/03/2008, 09:51 PM	#1
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	Cheap goby? Hey all, looking for a goby or two to add to my 75 gallon tank to help turn over the sand bed. I preferably would like the ones that really do a good job cleaning, but aren't brutally ugly. They also cannot be too expensive. The tank is 75 gallons, it has been setup for over 6 months and as of now only has one green chromi. The tank has about 100lbs of live sand and 75lbs live rock. Any suggestions?

01/04/2008, 07:26 AM	#9
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	Diamond gobies do a crazy job since all day long they sift. Problem is they don't really care whats in there way, and they will move rock, or dig under rock enough so that it falls. And they are impossible to get out. I had to pull 30lbs of lr out last week to get him out. I would stay away from a diamond. Get a yellow watchman and a bunch of nessarius snails. That combination will do a decent job and not wreck your tank. __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

01/04/2008, 01:29 PM	#11
rsw686 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA Posts: 549	Yep if you want a goby that will sift all day the diamond goby is the way to go. I have both a watchman goby and diamond goby. The watchman will just sift right outside his cave. The diamond moves sand all over. Sometimes it gets annoying as it will cover the bottom corals with sand. However the sand always has that new appearance which I like. You just have to make sure that your live rock is resting on the bottom of the tank so moving the sand around it will not make it fall. __________________ The Reptile File Forum (Google It) Discussion forum dedicated to geckos, lizards, snakes, turtles, amphibians, and other reptiles. Current Tank Info: 90gal reef w/ 20 gal sump, Aquactinics TX5, Octopus NW150, AquaController Jr.

01/04/2008, 02:55 PM	#12
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	Love my Dragon Goby, tears the place up but then puts it back a week later. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

01/04/2008, 11:05 PM	#18
Cope Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In deep water (SLT CA) Posts: 595	I have the same yellow head w neon blue stripe under the eye, I was told it was a yellow watchman goby? Mine cleans all over the tank? __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Current Tank Info: Soon to be 500 gallon mixed reef!

01/03/2008, 10:02 PM	#2
nam2212 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,257	I would look into a Rainsford or a Hector's goby. Be sure you see it eat at the LFS before you buy it, though.

01/03/2008, 10:28 PM	#3
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	I like the 2 spot goby myself... but my tank is too small. I watch them clean away at the LFS in their coral tank.

01/03/2008, 11:02 PM	#4
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	anybody else have any opinions?

01/03/2008, 11:14 PM	#5
Justinandkrista Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Port Angeles,WA Posts: 691	get a yellowhead sleeper goby they make a mess of sand everywhere but clean it well

01/03/2008, 11:23 PM	#6
cajundolphin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 34	I have an orange diamondback goby. I think it is very nice looking and it does a great job turning over sand.

01/04/2008, 01:22 AM	#8
bramjansen Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redwood City CA 94063 Posts: 166	I got tons of gobies in my 120 gallon: Very hardy, cheap and cool: Yellow watchman Randall Goby Pearl jawhead Favorite: Yashia Goby (makes sure it eats!) Do not buy the scooter (twin spot) goby. Most die, even when they eat and even if you have an established tank!

01/04/2008, 12:34 PM	#10
tcilmo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 59	I like Diamond gobies, yes that do put sand where ever . . . I never had a big problem with mine. However that is a chance you can take. . .

01/04/2008, 03:22 PM	#13
leoslizards Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL. Posts: 394	Shouldn't the chromis be keep in groups of 3 or more?

01/04/2008, 03:37 PM	#14
reefsponge Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 110	I like my yellow watchman goby, he turns the sand over right in front of his cave. That is about the only spot he does it though. For the two years that i've had him in my tank he hasn;t gone more than six inches away from his cave. I got lucky that his opening to the cave is positioned at the front of the tank. Even though he doesn't get around he is very interesting to watch, he comes off as a tough guy when other fish get to close to his pad. Deep down inside he's a pushover.

01/04/2008, 07:56 PM	#15
mnash Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 280	How do you quarintine sand sifting gobies? What do you feed them since in a qt tank you aren't supposed to have any sand?

01/04/2008, 09:29 PM	#16
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	The chromis were in a school of 5. Over the last 6 months, they have slowly killed eachother, and the snails ate the remains before I knew it. Always checked the water and it was always fine. I just bought a goby(forget what kind), has a neon blue stripe near his head and a yellowish mouth. He is sifting ALL OVER the tank... its great.

01/04/2008, 10:56 PM	#17
buddythelion Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,325	I beleive Valenciennea strigata is what you have.

01/04/2008, 11:23 PM	#19
buddythelion Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,325	I beleive yellow watchman goby is Cryptocentrus cinctus. They form a relationship with some pistol shrimps.

01/05/2008, 01:35 PM	#21
scatty25 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 63	how about some watchman gobies

01/28/2008, 03:22 PM	#22
esdayal Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Niles IL Posts: 485	I have a yellow Watchman Goby also and for my mated pistol shrimp pair but all he does is sit infront of his cave and sift that part only. __________________ Delivery hospital bill - 11,000.00 Diapers for the next 3 years-2,350.00 Baby Formula for 1st year - 1,900.00 Being a Dad - PRICELESS Current Tank Info: 46g, pair of nemo, firefly goby, Rbta,mated pair of Pistol Shrimps,Yellow watchman goby, Rain'sford goby, Lawnmower, Six line Wrasse,Pepperment shrimps, 40 lbs LS, 100+LR

01/28/2008, 03:35 PM	#23
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	my buddy has a diamond goby in his 75. it sifts the sand constantly and really made a mess of the tank when he first got it.

01/28/2008, 04:06 PM	#24
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	i have a green clown goby. what do you guys think of it?

01/29/2008, 12:16 AM	#25
willper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Auburn Posts: 67	I have a yellow clown goby. It is all over the tank. It is too small (.75inch) to cause much disturbance. __________________ Current Tank Info: Red Sea XL 425 88 Gallon, 22 gal sump, 2 x Aquaillumination Hydra 26 HD lights, Bubble Magus skimmer, Apex controller, 2 Apex Wav pumps, Apex Cor 20 return pump. Current Tank Info: Red Sea XL 425