Yellow Watchman Goby

Rigger #1 · 10/23/2006, 01:47 PM

I just purchased a Yellow Watchman Goby today....... He looked a little skinney so I asked the owner to show me that he was eating, he did........ I brought him home and went through a 2 hr acclimation process then released him in the tank..... The other fish were were of course curious (Copperband, 2 x Ocellaris Clownfish) Here is my question, when the other fish approached him he spit out all the brine shrimp i witnessed him eat at the pet store..... Is this a defence when they are scared or could he be sick? If it was a defence it worked like a charm, all the fish were eating the brine shrimp he spit out and left him alone....

Thank You
Ray

ducati1212 · 10/23/2006, 02:07 PM

At least yours had food in his mouth.

I bought a YWG last week and I have only seen him eat one pellet. He seems healthy though. I have been overfeeding my tank so much this last week to try and get him to eat tht my tan is starting to look a little rough.

But he seems healthy and has made at least 6 tunnels under 6 different rocks.

kiknchikn · 10/23/2006, 02:12 PM

I'm not sure the answer to your question, but I'd make the store show you it eat something other than brine next time. Brine is fish candy and has no nutrients.

Rigger #1 · 10/24/2006, 05:01 PM

Thank you for your resopnce. Anyone else?

trippyl · 10/24/2006, 05:33 PM

sounds like he is bullemic. Take him to the fish psychiatrist.

There is no such defense mechanism. Generally if a YWG is scared, it will go into it's tunnel or cave or whatever. I don't understand why the YWG would throw up on the other fish, never seen that before, but is it possible that he was spitting out soemthing else like sand? I would expect the food he ate at the LFS to be digested after being transported home and acclimated to the new tank. Or, the whole ordeal made his tummy hurt.

Just make sure enough food passes by his area and soon enough he should start eating. BTW, you may want to start quarantining your new fish.

goby1 · 10/25/2006, 12:37 AM

Had one im my fuge for 6 months and didn't even know it... Went down the overflow two or three times actually. I think he ate mostly pods. Very shy fish for me. G1

Rigger #1 · 10/25/2006, 08:42 AM

Thank you for all your responses ! I'll keep an eye on him, he seems to be OK. He ate today.

Trippyl, The tank they are in now will eventually be my hospital tank. I'm currently working on 2 x 225 gal (72"x30"x24") in wall with a "fish room" in the back. I cant believe all the thinking involved in this process.

bobbo · 11/18/2006, 07:52 AM

I just lost one after 2-3 years of having one. Yellow watchman is a shy fish and would often forgo a meal if other competitive live stocks exists. My was perfectly healthy and one day just got sick.

theeschen · 11/18/2006, 08:07 AM

My Yellow Watchman is a pig, eats anything, including some of my Bluelegged Hermit crabs. It is far from shy and literally pushes my large emerald crab out of the Goby's cave. It eats right out of the turkey baster; mysis, prime reef, formula2, fresh haddock. The best is when I feed flakes and it grabs them on the surface. It grabs so much air that it has to struggle to the bottom.
I just have clowns and a Bangai Cardinal in the tank thought so it is a pretty safe environment.
My wife thinks the Watchman is a bully but it is the most interesting guy in the tank.

10/23/2006, 02:12 PM	#3
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	I'm not sure the answer to your question, but I'd make the store show you it eat something other than brine next time. Brine is fish candy and has no nutrients. __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

10/23/2006, 01:47 PM	#1
Rigger #1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alberta , Canada Posts: 74	Yellow Watchman Goby I just purchased a Yellow Watchman Goby today....... He looked a little skinney so I asked the owner to show me that he was eating, he did........ I brought him home and went through a 2 hr acclimation process then released him in the tank..... The other fish were were of course curious (Copperband, 2 x Ocellaris Clownfish) Here is my question, when the other fish approached him he spit out all the brine shrimp i witnessed him eat at the pet store..... Is this a defence when they are scared or could he be sick? If it was a defence it worked like a charm, all the fish were eating the brine shrimp he spit out and left him alone.... Thank You Ray

10/23/2006, 02:07 PM	#2
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	At least yours had food in his mouth. I bought a YWG last week and I have only seen him eat one pellet. He seems healthy though. I have been overfeeding my tank so much this last week to try and get him to eat tht my tan is starting to look a little rough. But he seems healthy and has made at least 6 tunnels under 6 different rocks.

10/24/2006, 05:01 PM	#4
Rigger #1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alberta , Canada Posts: 74	Thank you for your resopnce. Anyone else?

10/24/2006, 05:33 PM	#5
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	sounds like he is bullemic. Take him to the fish psychiatrist. There is no such defense mechanism. Generally if a YWG is scared, it will go into it's tunnel or cave or whatever. I don't understand why the YWG would throw up on the other fish, never seen that before, but is it possible that he was spitting out soemthing else like sand? I would expect the food he ate at the LFS to be digested after being transported home and acclimated to the new tank. Or, the whole ordeal made his tummy hurt. Just make sure enough food passes by his area and soon enough he should start eating. BTW, you may want to start quarantining your new fish.

10/25/2006, 12:37 AM	#6
goby1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: san francisco Posts: 364	Had one im my fuge for 6 months and didn't even know it... Went down the overflow two or three times actually. I think he ate mostly pods. Very shy fish for me. G1

10/25/2006, 08:42 AM	#7
Rigger #1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alberta , Canada Posts: 74	Thank you for all your responses ! I'll keep an eye on him, he seems to be OK. He ate today. Trippyl, The tank they are in now will eventually be my hospital tank. I'm currently working on 2 x 225 gal (72"x30"x24") in wall with a "fish room" in the back. I cant believe all the thinking involved in this process.

11/18/2006, 07:52 AM	#8
bobbo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 118	I just lost one after 2-3 years of having one. Yellow watchman is a shy fish and would often forgo a meal if other competitive live stocks exists. My was perfectly healthy and one day just got sick.

11/18/2006, 08:07 AM	#9
theeschen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: S Portland ME Posts: 66	My Yellow Watchman is a pig, eats anything, including some of my Bluelegged Hermit crabs. It is far from shy and literally pushes my large emerald crab out of the Goby's cave. It eats right out of the turkey baster; mysis, prime reef, formula2, fresh haddock. The best is when I feed flakes and it grabs them on the surface. It grabs so much air that it has to struggle to the bottom. I just have clowns and a Bangai Cardinal in the tank thought so it is a pretty safe environment. My wife thinks the Watchman is a bully but it is the most interesting guy in the tank.