Best Sand Sifting Goby

[tst400]

Orange spots are cleaning machines, just know they are jumpers.

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[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by Angel*Fish

I don't know how current this info is, or if we know something now that wasn't known when the list was made. I've never had one as I have a dsb, so personally I'm clueless about them. Just want to insert a word of caution. This fish is listed on RC's list of

Fish Best Left For Experienced Or Knowledgeable Hobbyists:

Diamond, Golden Head, Sleeper Gobies (Valenciennea spp.): Sometimes starve to death even when accepting prepared foods, tanks with large sandbeds containing lots of food will help as will frequent feedings when they will eat, mated pairs may help as well

That was my experiences with a couple of them -- happened about 10 years ago or so. Even though they were eating prepared foods, they kept getting skinnier and skinnier (( over the course of a year )), until they finally died. I've been able to keep several difficult to keep fish, but this just doesn't work for me, and I know that I am not the only one that has experienced this.

For me, I vowed never to get another one -- there are other ways to keep a sandbed clean.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Even though they were eating prepared foods, they kept getting skinnier and skinnier (( over the course of a year )), until they finally died.

Well, any fish which aren't well fed will get thiner and thiner. It's really not much different than starving a tang. A sand sifting goby still needs to be feed since you are unlikely to be able to sustain its diet with the sand bed alone.

The stomach of the goby should be full almost all the time like any other well fed fish. If you are willing to feed (this particular goby is not picky about food), it's easier than a chromis (really). 19 months and counting:

[EuroDriver]

My remaining goby eventually starved to death too (Yellow-headed goby). He just would not eat anything else.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by dzhuo

Well, any fish which aren't well fed will get thiner and thiner. It's really not much different than starving a tang. A sand sifting goby still needs to be feed since you are unlikely to be able to sustain its diet with the sand bed alone.

The stomach of the goby should be full almost all the time like any other well fed fish. If you are willing to feed (this particular goby is not picky about food), it's easier than a chromis (really). 19 months and counting:

Did you see the part where I said it was eating prepared foods? I feed mine, and all my other fish, often with quality foods.
Just because someone had a different outcome then you did, doesn't mean that person wasn't feeding theirs.

[listerofsmeg]

don't get a chalk goby. I got one, he was really good at sifting sand, really active in the day... but then he ran out of food. And even though I started hiding food in the sand for him, he got really thin and then died.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Did you see the part where I said it was eating prepared foods?

Well, I am not blind so yes I saw that. Don't get mad. Do not confuse I feed a lot so my fish is well fed. Majority of the sand sifting goby probably die from this misassumption. Really sad to see one of the hardest sand sifting goby being slap with the impossible to keep tag.

[susyca]

Best watchman goby I have had was a randalls Goby.He is out all the time while my kasha just hides. They dont sift much.He is in my 28g nano and just cycling my new 180 g and debating whether to move him as the sand bed is only one inch to 2. he is paired with a pistol. what do you guys think.

[knight2255]

dzhou, you still have your diamond watchmen goby?

[reef4life07]

I purchased the sleeper goby on Sunday, and as of yesterday he covered about 90% of the sand. I was impressed.

[s2nhle]

I purchased a diamond goby last Friday and on Sunday he is out and stir up about 75% of the sand. Since I had him, the sand is flying around during the day and quiet it at night when the goby went to bed.

[reef4life07]

I purchased a sleeper goby this past Sunday, as of today it shifted most of the entire sandbed. I'm impressed with its work.

[KeepNitReel]

My diamond goby did an excellent good stirring the sand & eating leftover food on the sand since February. Moved him over to my 7 footer 3 days ago & haven't seen him in the daytime since introduced. I know he's in there though, cause I see his tail or head peaking through his cave from time to time.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by knight2255

dzhou, you still have your diamond watchmen goby?

Yes. The goby is still alive and fat. I took down the tank about 18 months ago and gave the fish to my friend. It's in his tank ever since.

[silentstorm]

Am upgrading my 55 to a 180... Thinking about adding the diamond goby.. Wondering if I can add him as soon as the tank is ready or better to wait for a couple of months so that the sand bed matures with more life??

Also, can I house more than 1goby & mix with bennies... & maybe a jaw fish?? Although the tank is a 180, would 3 different species (having almost same personality) fight each other??
I have enough hiding spots in the substrate level with small cave options... Aqua scaping is lie 3 different islands spread over... So thinking like each island can make home to a species ( goby, Benny, jewfish)...

Anyone has a combo of goby, Benny, jewfish?

Looking for some recommendations..

[devimik]

I have a Diamond Goby and a YWG. Both live in holes - the Diamond makes the holes - probably has 3-4 in my 90g. The YWG took one of them for himself and he doesn't sift any sand, just lives in his one hole and comes out to eat. The Diamond is constantly sifting and eating like a pig - eats all the types of food I put in the tank for the other fish.

[fisheater]

I just skimmed this thread because I also want a goby. Im thinking of a mandarin. Thing is I have very coarse black sand. How much does sand size matter for these little guys?

[UTCReefer]

A Mandarin will be fine as long as you have a crazy population of pods for him to eat all day.

[UTCReefer]

On another note I just got a Diamond Goby as well. On Day two he's happily sifting away and already has his first cave dug out.

[Meanmike]

Glad I found this thread.

What are the chances of me having problems adding a diamond watchman to a tank with a yellow head jawfish?

[reefguy24]

Are mandarin gobies any good?

[bazeball05]

Originally Posted by reefguy24

Are mandarin gobies any good?

They are very picky eaters. They only eat Copepods and a lot of them. I only recommend them to people who have a well established tank (1 year or more) or to people that can buy a lot of pods. They also do not sift sand, they just look for pods ha

[craig colbert]

[craig colbert]

What's this Goby... Shifts and really well