Dragon Goby - bad for the tank?

jdhanover · 11/16/2006, 11:02 PM

I recently added a dragon goby to my (6 month old) tank per the lfs owner suggestion. I just read a post where it was stated that sand sifting gobies are not good because they eat up most of the good stuff in the sand. Is this true? Do I need to get him out (and how does one do that?). If they are bad, why are they sold?

chefthomasr · 11/17/2006, 09:59 AM

Specimens are sold b/c people buy them. Plain and simple. You could get a shark for a nanocube too if you want. The key is to know what you want before you go in to the store. Not all LFS employees are as knowledgable as one would like.

As far as the goby goes you should be fine. It may rearrange your tank for you but eventually it'll calm down.

No worries.

jdhanover · 11/17/2006, 10:36 AM

Thanks. This lfs owner has yet to steer me wrong so I was surprised by what I read.

rekn · 11/17/2006, 12:34 PM

i would take him back and get a shrimp goby. anythign that sifts sand will decimate the good things in your sand bed

jdhanover · 11/17/2006, 01:00 PM

The beauty of this hobby - never an agreement on anything!

Aaaarrgghhh!

rekn · 11/17/2006, 09:30 PM

ive seen them go through a algae invested 180 in about 3 weeks =)

english83 · 11/18/2006, 05:57 PM

We have a watchman goby, and he doesn't sift much. He gets most of his food when we feed everyone else. He sifts, but not enough to keep the sand clean so I wouldn't worry about it. But then again yours could be different.

jdhanover · 11/18/2006, 06:58 PM

From what I am gathering - the key here may be the refugium (to which, to be sure, I just added a bottle of pods). Loose consensus is that one sand sifter in a tank of my size (150) with a refugium is fine. There does seem to be a bit of a difference of opinion with a burrowing fish (the dragon I have is fairly large and just skims the surface. I'll have to see how it goes (catching him seems near impossible so I don't have much choice).

11/16/2006, 11:02 PM	#1
jdhanover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs North Posts: 805	Dragon Goby - bad for the tank? I recently added a dragon goby to my (6 month old) tank per the lfs owner suggestion. I just read a post where it was stated that sand sifting gobies are not good because they eat up most of the good stuff in the sand. Is this true? Do I need to get him out (and how does one do that?). If they are bad, why are they sold? __________________ Regards, Jon Current Tank Info: JBJ Nano 28g for sale along with other stuff

11/17/2006, 09:59 AM	#2
chefthomasr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 55	Specimens are sold b/c people buy them. Plain and simple. You could get a shark for a nanocube too if you want. The key is to know what you want before you go in to the store. Not all LFS employees are as knowledgable as one would like. As far as the goby goes you should be fine. It may rearrange your tank for you but eventually it'll calm down. No worries. __________________ "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." -Goethe Current Tank Info: 135 gal reef w/ 55 gal fuge, 65 gal anemone tank, 55 gal fowlr w/ 35 gal fuge

11/17/2006, 10:36 AM	#3
jdhanover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs North Posts: 805	Thanks. This lfs owner has yet to steer me wrong so I was surprised by what I read. __________________ Regards, Jon Current Tank Info: JBJ Nano 28g for sale along with other stuff

11/17/2006, 01:00 PM	#5
jdhanover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs North Posts: 805	The beauty of this hobby - never an agreement on anything! Aaaarrgghhh! __________________ Regards, Jon Current Tank Info: JBJ Nano 28g for sale along with other stuff

11/18/2006, 05:57 PM	#7
english83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 120	We have a watchman goby, and he doesn't sift much. He gets most of his food when we feed everyone else. He sifts, but not enough to keep the sand clean so I wouldn't worry about it. But then again yours could be different. __________________ ~Erin~ Current Tank Info: none at the moment

11/17/2006, 12:34 PM	#4
rekn Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: colorado springs,co Posts: 909	i would take him back and get a shrimp goby. anythign that sifts sand will decimate the good things in your sand bed

11/17/2006, 09:30 PM	#6
rekn Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: colorado springs,co Posts: 909	ive seen them go through a algae invested 180 in about 3 weeks =)

11/18/2006, 06:58 PM	#8
jdhanover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs North Posts: 805	From what I am gathering - the key here may be the refugium (to which, to be sure, I just added a bottle of pods). Loose consensus is that one sand sifter in a tank of my size (150) with a refugium is fine. There does seem to be a bit of a difference of opinion with a burrowing fish (the dragon I have is fairly large and just skims the surface. I'll have to see how it goes (catching him seems near impossible so I don't have much choice). __________________ Regards, Jon Current Tank Info: JBJ Nano 28g for sale along with other stuff