What kind of goby?

garzaci · 01/07/2010, 08:00 PM

I am looking for a sand sifting goby that would work as a permanent addition for my tank. My tank is 14 months old with about a 1-1 1/2 inch sand bed.

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 09:43 PM

With a BTA in such a small tank, and with a maroon clown, I don't think I'd add a goby. The clown will try to reach 8-9" in length, and the BTA would love a goby for dinner.

garzaci · 01/07/2010, 10:05 PM

I listened to the lfs when I got the maroon and made the first newbie mistake. Right now he just stays with the BTA and only wanders a few inches away to grab food. He's about an inch and a half long right now. When he gets bigger I already understand if I I don't have another tank I'm going to trade him in. I thought they got to 6 inches though and rarely reached over 5 in captivity.

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 10:42 PM

I've seen one that was about 8" at least. That might be uncommon, though.

I honestly wouldn't trust the RBTA with a goby, but if the maroon clown was gone, a Yellow Watchman might be fun, if it doesn't get eaten.

nikon187 · 01/07/2010, 10:49 PM

That and their isn't a sand sifting goby that will thrive in a 20g tank. It just isn't big enough to have enough surface area of sand

abell · 01/07/2010, 11:11 PM

Maybe a twinspot but I would guess it would starve to death pretty quickly unless it was eating frozen food.

ksweat · 01/08/2010, 12:17 AM

I have a twin spot in my 30 gl long and he is doing just fine. He sifts sand all day and eats that spectrum pellat food. I've had him for about 3months and he has Been a great addition to my tank

nikon187 · 01/08/2010, 01:42 AM

thats the thing, alot of sand sifters don't get enough from prepared foods to thive long term, ie. at least a year if not much longer.

bsharding1982 · 01/08/2010, 09:06 AM

I've got one of these guys:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...213&pcatid=213

Only real young will they fit in a 20 though. He has helped a ton with algae that was growing on the sand and is really entertaining to watch.

You may have to be careful also with a sand sifter in a 20 because they sure make a mess throwing sand on everything. Anems don't care much for sand being thrown on them.

garzaci · 01/08/2010, 09:14 AM

I see I'm screwed. I wonder if I can convince my wife that everything in the tank will perish if we don't get a bigger tank. Somewhere around the 75 gallon range. Lol

abell · 01/08/2010, 02:25 PM

LOL I have been doing that for over a month now. I have a giant RBTA (maroon clown) that do all my bargaining that has her almost convinced to let me add a 2nd tank.

bsharding1982 · 01/08/2010, 02:43 PM

You should show her a sand sifter and talk about how neat they are and in a real disappointed voice say 'its so bad we don't have a tank big enough for one'

FYI Craigslist is great for finding a tank.

garzaci · 01/08/2010, 02:52 PM

Yeah, I've found some tanks for super cheap, but its the lights I don't have the extra cash for. I just bought a fixture for christmas so I'm not in the market for another one anytime soon

K.Bodno · 01/08/2010, 06:21 PM

what about this one?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...216&pcatid=216

bertoni · 01/08/2010, 06:31 PM

The description on the page about feeding is a bit worrying. When they recommend live foods, I tend to think of that as a problem. That fish might be okay, though. You could try looking at one of Scott Michael's books, if he has one on goby fishes yet.

garzaci · 01/08/2010, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the idea but I want to stay away from anything that requires live food because then I either have to go to the LFS a few times a week or grow my own. Neither of those options sound to appealing at the moment

bertoni · 01/08/2010, 09:53 PM

I was never willing to deal with live food, either, except bottled phytoplankton, which is easy to keep in the fridge.

garzaci · 01/08/2010, 10:27 PM

I have some Kent phyto. Is that stuff living or dead?

01/07/2010, 08:00 PM	#1
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	What kind of goby? I am looking for a sand sifting goby that would work as a permanent addition for my tank. My tank is 14 months old with about a 1-1 1/2 inch sand bed. __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/07/2010, 09:43 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	With a BTA in such a small tank, and with a maroon clown, I don't think I'd add a goby. The clown will try to reach 8-9" in length, and the BTA would love a goby for dinner. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/07/2010, 10:05 PM	#3
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	I listened to the lfs when I got the maroon and made the first newbie mistake. Right now he just stays with the BTA and only wanders a few inches away to grab food. He's about an inch and a half long right now. When he gets bigger I already understand if I I don't have another tank I'm going to trade him in. I thought they got to 6 inches though and rarely reached over 5 in captivity. __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/07/2010, 10:42 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I've seen one that was about 8" at least. That might be uncommon, though. I honestly wouldn't trust the RBTA with a goby, but if the maroon clown was gone, a Yellow Watchman might be fun, if it doesn't get eaten. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/07/2010, 10:49 PM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	That and their isn't a sand sifting goby that will thrive in a 20g tank. It just isn't big enough to have enough surface area of sand __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

01/07/2010, 11:11 PM	#6
abell Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pevely MO Posts: 242	Maybe a twinspot but I would guess it would starve to death pretty quickly unless it was eating frozen food.

01/08/2010, 12:17 AM	#7
ksweat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Destrehan, LA Posts: 72	I have a twin spot in my 30 gl long and he is doing just fine. He sifts sand all day and eats that spectrum pellat food. I've had him for about 3months and he has Been a great addition to my tank

01/08/2010, 01:42 AM	#8
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	thats the thing, alot of sand sifters don't get enough from prepared foods to thive long term, ie. at least a year if not much longer. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

01/08/2010, 09:06 AM	#9
bsharding1982 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 120	I've got one of these guys: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...213&pcatid=213 Only real young will they fit in a 20 though. He has helped a ton with algae that was growing on the sand and is really entertaining to watch. You may have to be careful also with a sand sifter in a 20 because they sure make a mess throwing sand on everything. Anems don't care much for sand being thrown on them.

01/08/2010, 09:14 AM	#10
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	I see I'm screwed. I wonder if I can convince my wife that everything in the tank will perish if we don't get a bigger tank. Somewhere around the 75 gallon range. Lol __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/08/2010, 02:25 PM	#11
abell Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pevely MO Posts: 242	LOL I have been doing that for over a month now. I have a giant RBTA (maroon clown) that do all my bargaining that has her almost convinced to let me add a 2nd tank.

01/08/2010, 02:43 PM	#12
bsharding1982 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 120	You should show her a sand sifter and talk about how neat they are and in a real disappointed voice say 'its so bad we don't have a tank big enough for one' FYI Craigslist is great for finding a tank.

01/08/2010, 02:52 PM	#13
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	Yeah, I've found some tanks for super cheap, but its the lights I don't have the extra cash for. I just bought a fixture for christmas so I'm not in the market for another one anytime soon __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/08/2010, 06:21 PM	#14
K.Bodno Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Highland Heights, Ohio Posts: 131	what about this one? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...216&pcatid=216

01/08/2010, 06:31 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The description on the page about feeding is a bit worrying. When they recommend live foods, I tend to think of that as a problem. That fish might be okay, though. You could try looking at one of Scott Michael's books, if he has one on goby fishes yet. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/08/2010, 08:27 PM	#16
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	Thanks for the idea but I want to stay away from anything that requires live food because then I either have to go to the LFS a few times a week or grow my own. Neither of those options sound to appealing at the moment __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/08/2010, 09:53 PM	#17
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I was never willing to deal with live food, either, except bottled phytoplankton, which is easy to keep in the fridge. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/08/2010, 10:27 PM	#18
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	I have some Kent phyto. Is that stuff living or dead? __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank