Sand-sifting goby

golby · 11/02/2009, 12:31 PM

I just picked up a Sleeper Blue Dot Goby (v. sexguttata) about 10 days ago. Everyone should have one of these fish! He darts about on the bottom of tank taking giant bites of sand and filtering it through his gills. It's fascinating! After just 24 hours in the tank he identified a rock that would be the roof of his burrow. He spent the next few days biting sand from under the rock and spitting it out elsewhere -- generally making himself a home. He's the most interesting fish I have.

One question...does anyone know how to tell if he's getting sufficient nutrition? I've had him for 10 days and he is constantly biting sand and filtering it and I feed frozen mysis and sinking pellets for carnivores each day but I have yet to see him actually swallow one of these things. All I see is sand in--sand out.

Thanks!

fox2589 · 11/02/2009, 12:48 PM

is the tank established?how big is it?this fish is filtering microscopic organisms out of the sand..and thats primarily his source of nutrition..i have heard a lot of people say theres eats prepared foods..-drew

golby · 11/02/2009, 01:10 PM

Tank is a 90g and been up and running for about 7 1/2 months. I have healthy coralline and see all sorts of pods and other inverts each night.

koranAngel · 11/02/2009, 06:10 PM

very fascinating fish they are mine did the same thing.
ive just lost my pair of sleeper gold face goby
due to lack of nutrient lost alot of weight in a short period of time..
didnt think before i bought i should see them eat prepared food

just picked up a sphinx goby but made sure he was eating ready food
so im happy but he does more shifting and messing around than the pair i had

rort · 11/03/2009, 02:26 AM

i had one that jumped awhile back. This time around i decided to go with a pair of Twin Spot Gobies as they dont carry the sand off the ground and sprinkle it all over my zoas, and they do a great job at cleaning the sand!

Good luck with yours and hopefully he will start taking prepared food

11/02/2009, 12:31 PM	#1
golby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 242	Sand-sifting goby I just picked up a Sleeper Blue Dot Goby (v. sexguttata) about 10 days ago. Everyone should have one of these fish! He darts about on the bottom of tank taking giant bites of sand and filtering it through his gills. It's fascinating! After just 24 hours in the tank he identified a rock that would be the roof of his burrow. He spent the next few days biting sand from under the rock and spitting it out elsewhere -- generally making himself a home. He's the most interesting fish I have. One question...does anyone know how to tell if he's getting sufficient nutrition? I've had him for 10 days and he is constantly biting sand and filtering it and I feed frozen mysis and sinking pellets for carnivores each day but I have yet to see him actually swallow one of these things. All I see is sand in--sand out. Thanks! __________________ Unless I explicitly state otherwise, assume that I have tested my parameters recently and they are: Temp: 80F Salt: 1.023-1.024 pH: 8.2 Amm: 0 'trite: 0 'trate: 0 Phosphate: 0 Copper: 0 Calcium: 360-420 dkH: 9 Current Tank Info: 90g internal overflow; 30g sump; ~325 Watts 6500K CFL bulbs; 100 lbs LR; mixed reef with LPS (frogspawn, torch, trumpet and bubble) and softies (leathers, mushrooms and lots of zoas)

11/02/2009, 12:48 PM	#2
fox2589 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 557	is the tank established?how big is it?this fish is filtering microscopic organisms out of the sand..and thats primarily his source of nutrition..i have heard a lot of people say theres eats prepared foods..-drew __________________ Back in the game.and no its not the first time haha. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder,20 gallon sump,bubble magus nac 6,eheim 1250 return,175 halide on lumenarc mini.

11/02/2009, 01:10 PM	#3
golby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 242	Tank is a 90g and been up and running for about 7 1/2 months. I have healthy coralline and see all sorts of pods and other inverts each night. __________________ Unless I explicitly state otherwise, assume that I have tested my parameters recently and they are: Temp: 80F Salt: 1.023-1.024 pH: 8.2 Amm: 0 'trite: 0 'trate: 0 Phosphate: 0 Copper: 0 Calcium: 360-420 dkH: 9 Current Tank Info: 90g internal overflow; 30g sump; ~325 Watts 6500K CFL bulbs; 100 lbs LR; mixed reef with LPS (frogspawn, torch, trumpet and bubble) and softies (leathers, mushrooms and lots of zoas)

11/02/2009, 06:10 PM	#4
koranAngel always on ** at work Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 436	very fascinating fish they are mine did the same thing. ive just lost my pair of sleeper gold face goby due to lack of nutrient lost alot of weight in a short period of time.. didnt think before i bought i should see them eat prepared food just picked up a sphinx goby but made sure he was eating ready food so im happy but he does more shifting and messing around than the pair i had __________________ y did i start this hobby Current Tank Info: 500lt main tank 39g fuge sump....sohal tang purple tang 2clown,coral beauty banana wrasse coris wrasse royal doty cleaner shrimp coral banded shrimp flame angel bicolour angel sphinx goby cuc mixed corals

11/03/2009, 02:26 AM	#5
rort Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 1,934	i had one that jumped awhile back. This time around i decided to go with a pair of Twin Spot Gobies as they dont carry the sand off the ground and sprinkle it all over my zoas, and they do a great job at cleaning the sand! Good luck with yours and hopefully he will start taking prepared food __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: Aquanano 60