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View Full Version : sand sifting fish

darkwaterdevil
05/15/2006, 08:56 PM
what kind of fish are sand sifters?
jgsensor
05/15/2006, 09:16 PM
Diamond gobies and brown bar(dragon), and engineer gobies are popular sand sifters.
darkwaterdevil
05/15/2006, 09:23 PM
any specaial care requirements with them?
jgsensor
05/15/2006, 09:32 PM
Just lots of sand for them. Some people don't like them, say they deplete the sand of life, but I have never had that problem in my tanks. In a 46g I wouldn't keep more than one. They like to dig so make sure your rock work is sound or they may topple it. Also gobies are known to try jumping from the tank, so you may want to keep the tank covered. I have tried 3 or 4 diamonds and all ended up on the floor within a week. I have had a pair of brown bars for about two years now with no problems. Their only down fall is that when they dig or sift they tend to carry the sand higher in the water column. They haven't damaged any coral yet and they are busy little suckers. They have also taken to prepared foods from the get go so I know they won't go hungery. They will eat mysis, flake, nori and once in a while brine shrimp.
saltfishlover06
05/16/2006, 02:56 PM
the best sand shifting goby for a reef tank is a Orangemarked Goby it only gets to 3 ".
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/118770Orangemarked_Goby.jpg
jgsensor
05/17/2006, 12:21 AM
He's kind of cool, never seen those in the LFS. Does he spread the sand a lot like the dragon goby or does he stay low and keep it in one spot more or less? He is a bit smaller than the dragon goby.
saltfishlover06
05/17/2006, 12:35 AM
they only get 3" i found it at LiveAquaria.com