Cheap goby?

haywood2 · #1 01/03/2008, 10:51 PM

Hey all, looking for a goby or two to add to my 75 gallon tank to help turn over the sand bed. I preferably would like the ones that really do a good job cleaning, but aren't brutally ugly. They also cannot be too expensive. The tank is 75 gallons, it has been setup for over 6 months and as of now only has one green chromi. The tank has about 100lbs of live sand and 75lbs live rock. Any suggestions?

nam2212 · #2 01/03/2008, 11:02 PM

I would look into a Rainsford or a Hector's goby. Be sure you see it eat at the LFS before you buy it, though.

FBNitro · #3 01/03/2008, 11:28 PM

I like the 2 spot goby myself... but my tank is too small. I watch them clean away at the LFS in their coral tank.

haywood2 · #4 01/04/2008, 12:02 AM

anybody else have any opinions?

Justinandkrista · #5 01/04/2008, 12:14 AM

get a yellowhead sleeper goby they make a mess of sand everywhere but clean it well

cajundolphin · #6 01/04/2008, 12:23 AM

I have an orange diamondback goby. I think it is very nice looking and it does a great job turning over sand.

BangkokMatt · #7 01/04/2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FBNitro
I like the 2 spot goby myself... but my tank is too small. I watch them clean away at the LFS in their coral tank.

2 Spots are very difficult to keep due to their dietery needs. They mostly die when kept in captitvity.

bramjansen · #8 01/04/2008, 02:22 AM

I got tons of gobies in my 120 gallon:

Very hardy, cheap and cool:

Yellow watchman

Randall Goby

Pearl jawhead

Favorite:

Yashia Goby (makes sure it eats!)

Do not buy the scooter (twin spot) goby. Most die, even when they eat and even if you have an established tank!

dsn112 · #9 01/04/2008, 08:26 AM

Diamond gobies do a crazy job since all day long they sift. Problem is they don't really care whats in there way, and they will move rock, or dig under rock enough so that it falls. And they are impossible to get out. I had to pull 30lbs of lr out last week to get him out. I would stay away from a diamond.

Get a yellow watchman and a bunch of nessarius snails. That combination will do a decent job and not wreck your tank.

tcilmo · #10 01/04/2008, 01:34 PM

I like Diamond gobies, yes that do put sand where ever . . . I never had a big problem with mine. However that is a chance you can take. . .

rsw686 · #11 01/04/2008, 02:29 PM

Yep if you want a goby that will sift all day the diamond goby is the way to go. I have both a watchman goby and diamond goby. The watchman will just sift right outside his cave. The diamond moves sand all over.

Sometimes it gets annoying as it will cover the bottom corals with sand. However the sand always has that new appearance which I like.

You just have to make sure that your live rock is resting on the bottom of the tank so moving the sand around it will not make it fall.

tspors · #12 01/04/2008, 03:55 PM

Love my Dragon Goby, tears the place up but then puts it back a week later.

leoslizards · #13 01/04/2008, 04:22 PM

Shouldn't the chromis be keep in groups of 3 or more?

reefsponge · #14 01/04/2008, 04:37 PM

I like my yellow watchman goby, he turns the sand over right in front of his cave. That is about the only spot he does it though. For the two years that i've had him in my tank he hasn;t gone more than six inches away from his cave. I got lucky that his opening to the cave is positioned at the front of the tank. Even though he doesn't get around he is very interesting to watch, he comes off as a tough guy when other fish get to close to his pad. Deep down inside he's a pushover.

mnash · #15 01/04/2008, 08:56 PM

How do you quarintine sand sifting gobies? What do you feed them since in a qt tank you aren't supposed to have any sand?

haywood2 · #16 01/04/2008, 10:29 PM

The chromis were in a school of 5. Over the last 6 months, they have slowly killed eachother, and the snails ate the remains before I knew it. Always checked the water and it was always fine. I just bought a goby(forget what kind), has a neon blue stripe near his head and a yellowish mouth. He is sifting ALL OVER the tank... its great.

buddythelion · #17 01/04/2008, 11:56 PM

I beleive Valenciennea strigata is what you have.

Cope · #18 01/05/2008, 12:05 AM

I have the same yellow head w neon blue stripe under the eye, I was told it was a yellow watchman goby? Mine cleans all over the tank?

buddythelion · #19 01/05/2008, 12:23 AM

I beleive yellow watchman goby is Cryptocentrus cinctus. They form a relationship with some pistol shrimps.

haywood2 · #20 01/05/2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by buddythelion
I beleive Valenciennea strigata is what you have.

Pretty sure you are right. It is definitely not a watchman goby. Woke up this morning and almost my entire sand bed is completely turned over.... sweetness

scatty25 · #21 01/05/2008, 02:35 PM

how about some watchman gobies