RainFord Goby aka court jester???

Hans-moleman · 02/10/2006, 04:50 PM

does anyone own one of these? I read that they are good algae eater, but i want to hear your experiences with this fish.

Vili_Shark · 02/10/2006, 06:18 PM

I have a couple for long time.
I also heard they are good hair algae eaters.
I saw them picking on the hair algae but never really eating it, like you see a Zebrasoma spp. do.
If you have hair algae problem dont expect them to solve it, at least not a few of them.

Angels · 02/10/2006, 09:20 PM

They eat copeopods....and lots of them. Mine will sometimes accidentilly take in some hair algea but they always spit it back out their gills. Their hunters like mandarins. They will also sift through the top layer of your sand bed searching for worms or whatever little critters they can find.

As far as their food is concerned, they seem to be pretty size specific, only eating the smallest critters they can find.

Mine are very peaceful towards each other and all tank mates, they dont spook easily like alot of other gobies. Infact mine dont even seem to be bothered when i have my hands in the tank cleaning or rearanging things, they just go about their business. If you can feed one...get one!

Bluetangclan · 02/11/2006, 12:46 AM

I have had several as well. I dont believe the hair algae thing either, its hype. Like Angels said, they suck in the algae to pick eat the critters on it and blow the remaining algae out through their gills. I had a problem of rarely seeing mine, they are fairly timid.

eleodes · 02/11/2006, 07:11 PM

i have heard that they are tricky. they frequentnly starve to death unless in systems with good pod population.

backlash · 02/11/2006, 10:29 PM

I have to disagree. I have 2 In my tank and they eat hair algea and cyano like its going out of style. Yes cyano!!IThey tear off little bits of it and and eat it.Not hype-just fact!They also sift through the substrate/detritus eating pods as well I'm sure. They are very entertaining to watch. In the evening before the lights go out they will clean out substrate under a rock or coral and make a place to sleep. Mine have never eaten any frozen or prepared foods, but they are very fat and healthy.
YMMV

02/10/2006, 04:50 PM	#1
Hans-moleman Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SGV Posts: 120	RainFord Goby aka court jester??? does anyone own one of these? I read that they are good algae eater, but i want to hear your experiences with this fish.

02/10/2006, 06:18 PM	#2
Vili_Shark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,847	I have a couple for long time. I also heard they are good hair algae eaters. I saw them picking on the hair algae but never really eating it, like you see a Zebrasoma spp. do. If you have hair algae problem dont expect them to solve it, at least not a few of them.

02/10/2006, 09:20 PM	#3
Angels Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springfeild Il. Posts: 61	They eat copeopods....and lots of them. Mine will sometimes accidentilly take in some hair algea but they always spit it back out their gills. Their hunters like mandarins. They will also sift through the top layer of your sand bed searching for worms or whatever little critters they can find. As far as their food is concerned, they seem to be pretty size specific, only eating the smallest critters they can find. Mine are very peaceful towards each other and all tank mates, they dont spook easily like alot of other gobies. Infact mine dont even seem to be bothered when i have my hands in the tank cleaning or rearanging things, they just go about their business. If you can feed one...get one!

02/11/2006, 12:46 AM	#4
Bluetangclan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando(Wedgefield), Fl Posts: 555	I have had several as well. I dont believe the hair algae thing either, its hype. Like Angels said, they suck in the algae to pick eat the critters on it and blow the remaining algae out through their gills. I had a problem of rarely seeing mine, they are fairly timid.

02/11/2006, 07:11 PM	#5
eleodes Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 361	i have heard that they are tricky. they frequentnly starve to death unless in systems with good pod population.

02/11/2006, 10:29 PM	#6
backlash Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bayou State (GO TIGERS!!!) Posts: 200	I have to disagree. I have 2 In my tank and they eat hair algea and cyano like its going out of style. Yes cyano!!IThey tear off little bits of it and and eat it.Not hype-just fact!They also sift through the substrate/detritus eating pods as well I'm sure. They are very entertaining to watch. In the evening before the lights go out they will clean out substrate under a rock or coral and make a place to sleep. Mine have never eaten any frozen or prepared foods, but they are very fat and healthy. YMMV