Goby Lifespan Survey

[JCDelbeek]

Aloha All,

I am working on a paper on marine goby longevity in aquaria with Dr. Jack Randall. Most scientific papers appear to indicate lifespans from one to five years in the wild. This observation needs to be qualified by pointing out that most scientists appear to equate "lifespan" with "survivability" i.e. thats how long they survive until they are eaten. In an effort to ascertain how long gobies can actually "live" I would like to conduct an international survey of hobbyists via various forums in the US, Europe and Asia. This data will be combined with a similar survey I am conducting involving public aquariums.

If you would be so kind as to submit to me the following information I would be most appreciative. I would like the following information for these genera: Trimma, Eviota, Priolepis, Gobiodon, Amblygobius, Cryptocentrus and Valenciennia:

Country you live, Genus, species, years in captivity, and an
indication if the fish is still alive and on display. Please send your
replies to this sticky thread by the end of July.

If anyone has access to international forums in Europe, Asia or elsewhere, can you please pass along this request?

Many thanks in advance!

J. Charles Delbeek

[ahullsb]

bump

[MTB]

My Valenciennea puellaris has been with since last July. So a year. He appears to be thriving. Sifts through the sand all day and accepts Mysis regularly.

[Skipper]

Stuck to the top...!!!

[acrodave]

USA Discordipinna griessingeri 3 yrs Still alive but so reclusive that its rare viewing occurs only every month or less. 10 gal unskimmed tank with randalls shrimp. Tank is fed mysis and cyclops on a two to three day feeding schedule.

[Gillybaby]

I've had a 6" Valenciennea strigata since 8 Jan 2006 (grown about an inch since purchased so near enough an adult) and a 1" Gobiodon atrangulatus since 26 Mar 2006 (which hasn't grown at all, not that I expected it to). They are both nice fat fish in good condition and appear healthy, feeding well etc.

PS I'm in Scotland, UK by the way

[thrillreefer]

Cryptocentrus cinctus (yellow watchman) has been in my tank for just about 2 years now. Still thriving. United States

[reefing102]

Cryptocentrus cinctus was in a lfs display for 2 years, now I have had him in my tank for about 2 years and thriving. US

[Mark426]

Hard to find much info on this subject, hopefully you will shed some light on this. From what I have read and guessed. The smaller they are the shorter their lifespan, some as short as 1 year. I have several really tiny gobies (different trimma's) in my tank. The oldest, I have had for almost one year. How old they were when I got them, who knows. But they have grown quite abit, so I will guess they were young. I think they are full grown now and breed frequently. They are beginning to have that old fish look. I really dont expect them to last more than several more months, maybe a year. I lost one not long ago, just disappeared never too be seen again? I think it may have died of natural causes, it looked very old. I just read an article from a green-banded goby breeder, he said that his goby's live 2 years.

Country- USA
Breed - Trimma rubromaculatus
Years In Captivity - 1 yr. , alive and on display
Approx Age - 1.5 yrs?

Mark

p.s. just added a tank bred Yellow Watchman Goby, super small, less than 1/2 inch. Hopefully it will live several years.

[billsreef]

Valenciennea puellaris for two years. Lost via Jumping.
Cryptocentrus cinctus going on 3 years and still doing well.
US.

[iamwhatiam52]

Good question for me since I'm a goby nut. Bad question for me since I do not keep records, so whatever you read here is anecdotal.

I had read somewhere that a species of Eviota goby is the shortest lived vertebrate, living only several months. This was awfull news since I had several for a few months at that time.

Happy to report that at a year and a half, they are still fine.

I do not know all the species, but here is what lives in my tank.

1 Greenband Elacatinus multifasciatum, 2years
1 Redhead, Elacatinus puncticulatus 2 years
5 Trimma, at least 2 species, 1 1/2 years
1 red striped Trimma cana over a year.
4 Eviota, 2 species, 1 1/2 years
2 Priolepis nocturnus, (pair) 1 year
2 yellow clown Gobiodon okinawae, (Breeding pair )over a year.
2 Black clown Gobiodon strangulatus (breeding pair) 8 or 9 months
3 masked goby, Coryphopterus personatus, over a year.
2 hi fin redband, Stonogobiops nematodes, (pair with a shrimp) 1 year
1 Yashia Stonogobiops yashia, 1 1/2 years
2 unidentified clown ( 5/8 inch green with high spiked dorsal fins) over a year.
Mandarin 1 1/2 years.

Yes. I have that many gobies and more. You can get a lot of fish in a tank if they are small. About 40 fish, over 30 gobies in my 180 and people look at the tank saying "You don't have many fish in here".
IDIOTS!

Which reminds me, I've spoken to someone who claims to have mandarins for over 15 years. Liar liar pants on fire??????

[kypatriot]

Kentucky, Valenciennea puellaris, 2 years so far, still in display and very active fish.

Has approximately doubled his size since being purchased, so I think it was young when I got it.

I had another puellaris for 1 year that jumped from the tank (it's now covered)

[LOTUS50GOD]

My Cryptocentrus cinctus (Yellow watchman goby) has been in captivity for 5 years and is still on display. He has had several diggers to include a Pearl headed jawfish. Fish is located in Chandler, AZ. (USA)

[barbra]

Ambligobius rainfordi
Fully grown at purchase 8 months ago.
Alive and kickin' in the USofA

[Travis L. Stevens]

Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
Country: United States
Years in captivity: September 17, 2007 - Current (See Notes)
Alive/Dead: Alive
Notes: I obtained a pair of C. cinctus from a friend. They were in captivity in a display at a store for several months. When I received them, noting the growth rates of C. cintus, I estimated that they were within one to one and a half years old by the time I received them. They have now been with me for nearly a year. My estimate is that they are two years old. They live together and coexist peacefully. The female has not changed colors from when I got her except a darker banding that is difficult to see. They do not live with any Pistol Shrimp. If you would like more detailed information, you can follow along this thread: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=934900 Nothing new to really report except they are growing larger.

[Randall_James]

Amblyeleotris sp. (Banded shrimp goby)
Purchased full grown 22 months ago with symbiant Tiger Shrimp
Both alive and well

[Aquaticman74]

USA
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus(Pink/Blue Spot Watchman)
I've had this goby for four years and it's still alive and visible in my tank. The first two years it was in a 90 with a DSB and has spent the last two years in a bare bottom enviornment.

[Sk8r]

Got a yellow watchman Jan of 2006...has reached adult size since, [year and a half], is just slightly over 2" long and fat; and is dominant over the tank. I'm pretty sure I got him as a juvenile, and his growth made a sudden small spurt with the addition of a 20g refugium with lots of pods, whether or not the refugium was causatory I have no idea. Resident in US.

[jobob]

USA,Cryptocentrus cinctus, bought it when it was alittle under 1 1/2in. Had for 4 1/2yrs and is about 4in, and is paired with pistol shrimp. He also went through 3 tank moves and is still living in my 120gal display tank.

[kaihonu82]

Valencienna puellaris
USA
lived for ~14 months

he just died last week I didn't see him sifting through the sand much anywmore and wasn't as fiesty about getting food I was feeding my fish as he used to be. I was going to QT him and "force feed" him but he died before I could take him out. RIP my littly goby

[gophia]

One Cryptocentrus cinctus

Purchased on March 2003.

~1.5 inch on purchase now almost 4 inches

Still in my display tank and eating like a pig!

Location Canada

[SJimmyH]

Cryptocentrus leptocephals - Common Names - Watchman, Pink Watchman, Spotted Watchman

United States

Lived for over 3 years in captivity. Died during a move of the tank.

[2crazyreefers]

ORA neon cleaner goby not sure of scientific name all by himself in my 40 breeder reef tank for 3 years now.

[rbaker]

I've had a Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon histro) in my 150 gallon refugium for around 5 years.

[bhdmc]

Valencienna Puellaris is a beauitufl fish, but I never had any luck with them. After purchase, two or three days later I always find them on the floor. I gave up on them. Do not believe in a cover for a reef tank