Strange Goby Behavior

BrianBell1974 · 05/07/2006, 12:47 PM

I have had a yellow watchman goby in my reef for 5 or 6 months and he has always been very yellow.

Approximately 3 weeks ago I added a diamond goby to the reef. I was worried they would fight but it appears to be the opposite.
They share the same hole and appear to have become mates.

I have read when you put two watchmans together one would change colors to almost white to clear with a black head and become the female.
My diamond is the color you always see in diamond gobies but the watchman has changed to the white/clear with a black head

At first I thought the watchman was stressed but if so I do not think they would share a hole and go everywhere together

Has anyone else experienced this and is it possible for them to be mated.

Sk8r · 05/07/2006, 01:07 PM

Mating won't work: they're too different, IMHO, but the yellow is a dominant-acting creature that runs his tank. He's evidently decided to chill out and be calm and let the other guy do it all.

BrianBell1974 · 05/07/2006, 07:16 PM

Thanks, I figured there would be no physical way for them to mate but maybe just mentally the yellow could be seriously confused LOL

It is pretty strange to see a watchman so submissive. His yellow color is completely gone and does not appear to be stressed at all.

05/07/2006, 12:47 PM	#1
BrianBell1974 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 136	Strange Goby Behavior I have had a yellow watchman goby in my reef for 5 or 6 months and he has always been very yellow. Approximately 3 weeks ago I added a diamond goby to the reef. I was worried they would fight but it appears to be the opposite. They share the same hole and appear to have become mates. I have read when you put two watchmans together one would change colors to almost white to clear with a black head and become the female. My diamond is the color you always see in diamond gobies but the watchman has changed to the white/clear with a black head At first I thought the watchman was stressed but if so I do not think they would share a hole and go everywhere together Has anyone else experienced this and is it possible for them to be mated. __________________ A favor Done Too Often Becomes an Obligation Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon

05/07/2006, 01:07 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Mating won't work: they're too different, IMHO, but the yellow is a dominant-acting creature that runs his tank. He's evidently decided to chill out and be calm and let the other guy do it all. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/07/2006, 07:16 PM	#3
BrianBell1974 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 136	Thanks, I figured there would be no physical way for them to mate but maybe just mentally the yellow could be seriously confused LOL It is pretty strange to see a watchman so submissive. His yellow color is completely gone and does not appear to be stressed at all. __________________ A favor Done Too Often Becomes an Obligation Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon