Gold CBS trouble - 20 gallon

NorthDakotaRose · 12/30/2015, 02:47 PM

Hello, I've been experiencing troubles recently with a pair of Gold CBS that I picked up. I originally purchased one and had trouble integrating him to the tank, he seemed to shy away and wouldn't attempt to clean or swim around until night when the tank's light was off. The only things in the tank around that time were two halloween crabs, two red legged crabs, and two of the bumblebee snails. A couple days later, I referred myself back to the place where I purchased the fish from originally and asked what I should do next. They suggested adding a Starry Blenny as well as another Gold CBS to help assist with cleaning and pickup the supposed slack. The next day, the original shrimp was hiding and wounded (one of the large claws and some of it's antennae were clipped), while the newest addition strut around the tank taking well to it. At first I wasn't sure if this was an issue of food, or just fish flexing their dominance. Recently I've read that the Gold CBS cannot be paired with one another, unless it's for the purpose of mating; whereas the people at the saltwater store told me otherwise. Now, I'm currently in a situation where I have a 20 gallon tall, and two shrimp fighting for terrirory. The same people at the store said as the tank matured, I could pick up a clown fish and a damsel, like I had wanted, but now I'm not sure if I'm able to trust them. What should I do?

Tautoga · 12/30/2015, 03:02 PM

One of the shrimp needs to go back. You cant have 2 CBS unless they are already a mated pair. They will kill each other.

Do you already have the Blenny?
That tank is too small for both a clown and a damsel. The tank is definitely too small for all 3.

NorthDakotaRose · 12/30/2015, 03:09 PM

Yes, the Blenny has been in there for about a week. I've already paid for the clown, damsel, and a brittle starfish in advance. They informed me that the tank would be big enough for all of them, but I guess that's what I get for going to the store here in North Dakota. I wouldn't have made the purchases had I known otherwise.

12/30/2015, 02:47 PM	#1
NorthDakotaRose Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 33	Gold CBS trouble - 20 gallon Hello, I've been experiencing troubles recently with a pair of Gold CBS that I picked up. I originally purchased one and had trouble integrating him to the tank, he seemed to shy away and wouldn't attempt to clean or swim around until night when the tank's light was off. The only things in the tank around that time were two halloween crabs, two red legged crabs, and two of the bumblebee snails. A couple days later, I referred myself back to the place where I purchased the fish from originally and asked what I should do next. They suggested adding a Starry Blenny as well as another Gold CBS to help assist with cleaning and pickup the supposed slack. The next day, the original shrimp was hiding and wounded (one of the large claws and some of it's antennae were clipped), while the newest addition strut around the tank taking well to it. At first I wasn't sure if this was an issue of food, or just fish flexing their dominance. Recently I've read that the Gold CBS cannot be paired with one another, unless it's for the purpose of mating; whereas the people at the saltwater store told me otherwise. Now, I'm currently in a situation where I have a 20 gallon tall, and two shrimp fighting for terrirory. The same people at the store said as the tank matured, I could pick up a clown fish and a damsel, like I had wanted, but now I'm not sure if I'm able to trust them. What should I do?

12/30/2015, 03:02 PM	#2
Tautoga Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 113	One of the shrimp needs to go back. You cant have 2 CBS unless they are already a mated pair. They will kill each other. Do you already have the Blenny? That tank is too small for both a clown and a damsel. The tank is definitely too small for all 3. Last edited by Tautoga; 12/30/2015 at 03:13 PM.

12/30/2015, 03:09 PM	#3
NorthDakotaRose Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 33	Yes, the Blenny has been in there for about a week. I've already paid for the clown, damsel, and a brittle starfish in advance. They informed me that the tank would be big enough for all of them, but I guess that's what I get for going to the store here in North Dakota. I wouldn't have made the purchases had I known otherwise. Last edited by NorthDakotaRose; 12/30/2015 at 03:21 PM.