Blue Cheeked Goby (Golden Headed Sleeper)

[vishboy]

I'm contemplating whether or not to get a Blue Cheeked Goby. I have been asking a couple of trusted people what the minimum tank size for one of these is, and they said 40 gallons. I have a 30 gallon tank that has been going for roughly (give or take a month) a year. I was just wondering if this size was recommended because they sift through the gravel for food and you need a lot od gravel, or just because they get big. I only have two small (1 inch) clowns in my tank and a small purple firefish.

Also, would phillipean gravel be okay for this fish? I have roughly 2 1/2 inches on the bottom of my tank.

Thanks!

[d4a2n0k]

They need sand. If you put them in a tank with gravel, it could kill them.

You are best to stay away from this fish. They decimate the Pod population in the sandbed within days and not all will take prepared food. Most of these fish slowly starve, over the course of months. On top of that, they dump sand over all your rockwork and corals and you have to constantly use a turkey baster to blow the sand off things.

I had one that would eat everything I put in the tank, but couldnt take the sand everywhere so eventually got rid of him. Mine was quite large as well, about 7". I dont think you'd want a fish that size in a 30 gallon tank.

Basically, everything is against you on this one. :cool: Look for another fish.

[d4a2n0k]

Oh yeh and

[welcome]

[vishboy]

Okay,
What you said sounds a lot like some other people's opinions. What I really want is a fish that will sift through my sand. Would a scooter blenny work? I would really like to know of any fish that would sift the sand and be compatible with my tank.

Thanks

[d4a2n0k]

Look into a Randalls Goby. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=197

They stay much smaller and dont take a mouthful of sand and swim around the tank. They stay at the bottom and sift sand in place. You can also get a Pistol Shrimp to pair up with him and live together. People seem to have a lot more luck in getting them to eat.

It think this would be a better addition to your 30.

[vishboy]

Listen,
I really REALLY need to know everything about the Blue Cheeked Goby AKA Golden Headed Sleeper.

e.g.- feeding habits, average size, lifespan, persona;ity, habits, pros, and cons.

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE reply back.

P.S. This is super urgent and I will be checking this forum every 10 minutes or so.

Thank
Vishboy

[d4a2n0k]

You talking to me? :D

They can get to about 7" maybe a little bigger. Dont know the lifespan but as with most marine fish I'm sure 10+ years is not out of the question. They will clean your sand like no other fish, it will be spotless but as I said they will dump sand everywhere if you can deal with that. Try to get them feeding on meaty foods like Mysis, squid, clam, mussel etc. Try soaking food in Kents Garlic Extreme (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=KM3631) to help entice fish to take prepared food. They are calm fish and wont bother anything but if they get picked on they will attack back.

Other than that theres really not much else you can do. Just get the fish feeding is the main concern.

[JENnKerry]

Mine eats everything from flakes, pellets, nori to frozen mysis and squid. A real pig I might add.

[vishboy]

thanks guys,
please keep the facts coming.

(Tips on getting it to feed would be helpful)

Vishboy

[ReefNeck]

I found this to be very informative and helpful when I got mine (3 Days Ago).

http://extension.osu.edu/~nathan/gobie_care.html

[vishboy]

Thanks Reefer Madness.
I'm still wanting to know everything every body else knows
eg-tips, how long it takes for them to start swimming around insted of hiding, etc.

Thanks to infinite,
Vishboy

[ReefNeck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6590208#post6590208 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vishboy
Thanks Reefer Madness.
I'm still wanting to know everything every body else knows
eg-tips, how long it takes for them to start swimming around insted of hiding, etc.

Thanks to infinite,
Vishboy

Well mine never did hide. Unlike my Yellow Watchman Goby that I still don't see coming out after a week. My Gold Head Sleeper has sifted my entire sandbed in less than 4 days and my rocks look like the Rocky Mountains after a snow storm.

I honestly have to blow the rocks off daily with a baster. I am considering a new home for him since I don't want him to starve to death even though I have a refugium for pod growth. This Goby is eating me out of tank and sand. :eek:

[john rochon]

worst fish I ever added. I have southdown and sugar sand. even in a 500g my tank is still a mess with fine silt everywere.

[chrismcfc]

Was thinking of getting one myself, but was told from the owner of my LFS that their survival rate is low once they have cleared up all the sand.
And in fairness, you don't often get LFS owner telling you something like that.

[vishboy]

Hi guys,
I bought one and it's in my quarantine tank. I put a small amount of sand in it and some pvc. The thing is, my goby is always hiding. I think he has been on the sand only once. He wpn't be coming out of the quarantine tank for another 3 1/2 weeks or so, so I hope that he gets alittle braver. I know that he is eating the frozen food that i put in there for him, so food souldn't be a proble. I have had him for roughly 5 days, so I'm hoping it's just the regular shyness. I will probably be posting pics later on.
Please keep the personal experiance coming. I need all of the tips I can get.

Vishboy

(PS- I need a way to increase the population of pods in my tank. Would grundge froma live rock shipment help?)

[DizziDezi2]

buy pods in a bottle

[vishboy]

I don't think that those are live pods. I want something with live ones to make sure that there is a guaranteed healthy population when I put the goby in.

Bu thanks for posting.

Vishboy

[ReefNeck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6595183#post6595183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vishboy
I don't think that those are live pods. I want something with live ones to make sure that there is a guaranteed healthy population when I put the goby in.

Bu thanks for posting.

Vishboy

Actually, They are live pods! The ones sold locally here are called "Tigger Pods" and I just put a whole bottle in my fuge last week.

[vishboy]

Really!
I thought that since they were in a bottle they would be dead. I wonder how they can keep them alive in there?:confused: What would you recommend that I buy? I would like a lot of people to reply to this one because I don't spend my money without proof.

Thanks,
Vishboy

(PS- Do you guys want pics of my goby so you can tell me how it is doing?)

[vishboy]

:confused: :confused: :confused: Hello?:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Kathy55g]

Vishboy, call me. Kathy

[Bret61081]

Ive had mine since June and its been doing great. Almost doubled in size in that time. mine usually picks patches of sand to sift but makes one hell of a mess!! it will eat anything I put in the tank....very cool fish...lots of personality and always out "eating sand" as my friends say...

[vishboy]

For all of those people out there that have these fish, I have a question.
Would Phillipean Gravel be okay for a Blue Cheeked Goby? The size of the gravel is roughly 2mm. :confused: I have a small amount of this gravel in me QT and the goby seems happy, but I don't want it to die or anything.

Thanks
Vishboy

[ReefNeck]

d4a2n0k already answered you before. You act like you don't want to hear anything anyone tells you so I am finished trying to help you.

You were told it needs "Sand"! You were told about "Live Pods" yet you ask the same questions over and over.

Reread your thread and get the answers for yourself.

[dave11]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/davidlaming/gobies023.jpg

I love watching mine - they do rearrange the whole tank as they want it though - They even pick up small hermits and move them around
Dave

[vishboy]

You don't have to get fed up Reefer Madness. I just like to have more than one source tell me the same thing. That way I know that someone isn't just guessing. I have heard from some people that I highly trust say that the gravel in my tank should be fine.

Vishboy.

Oh Yeah,
Thanks for the picture dave11