Sand Sifting Gobys for a 12 gallon

hgbarwick · #1 07/11/2006, 08:33 PM

Is their any gobys that stay small and sift sand? I really need one for my 12 gallon aqua pod.

nodbugger · #2 07/11/2006, 09:02 PM

High fin red banded gobies. My pistol shrimp dwarfs the thing, really skinny and slender, never comes out of it's hole more than a few inches.

Sk8r · #3 07/11/2006, 09:27 PM

Yellow watchman goby sifts more sand. Stays fairly small. I love the high-fins, but mine don't dig: they stay under the rockwork and swim midwater. They are juvvies, however.

rbrice020378 · #4 07/11/2006, 10:39 PM

Check out TWIN SPOT Gobies. They rock.

hgbarwick · #5 07/12/2006, 02:38 PM

Yeah I saw them. They are cool. Are they hardy? I have read they are hard to keep.

Biggie · #6 07/12/2006, 02:39 PM

Any suggestions on Gobies for BB?

hgbarwick · #7 07/12/2006, 02:47 PM

Ok I know for a fact that most gobys need a sand bed. You could always do a fire fish, or you could try a clown goby.

Jordan55 · #8 07/12/2006, 02:49 PM

Make sure which ever sand sifter you get, eats food. I had a rainford goby in a 55 gallon with 4 inches of sand. After a couple months he was starving. Gave him to a local who had a 300 gallon.

So which ever you get, make sure they eat foods, and do not get over a few inches because lots of sand sifters get 4-6 inches.

hgbarwick · #9 07/12/2006, 02:54 PM

I am probably going to go with a twin spot goby.

Jordan55 · #10 07/12/2006, 02:58 PM

Twin spots are very neat. We had a couple in at work awhile back. They were cool to see hanging above the sandbed all day.

Good choice.

hgbarwick · #11 07/12/2006, 03:05 PM

I think I am going to go with one. But they do look cool!

hgbarwick · #12 07/12/2006, 05:22 PM

Another Question. Do Twin Spot gobys need ot be kept in ppairs?

hgbarwick · #13 07/12/2006, 05:22 PM

Sorry Double post.

jerbosreef · #14 07/12/2006, 06:46 PM

WOW, those twin spots look cool!! totally different from the norm.

hgbarwick · #15 07/12/2006, 06:52 PM

Yeah I agree.

DarkXerox · #16 07/13/2006, 12:43 PM

Make sure that they are eating well before you buy them. If they don't, they will demolish the fauna in your sandbed and die a slow, starving death.

Often they are sold in stores and have heavy internal parasites that lead to starvation later. So that is a risk as well. Some stores sell them as pairs as well. But I don't think this is the best fish for a 12 gallon nano.

Yellow watchmen are pretty much bulletproof though. You could also consider a yasha with a pistol shrimp pairing if you don't mind the clicking at night.

hgbarwick · #17 07/13/2006, 12:46 PM

I have a randels pistol shrimp. Do watchman gobys sift sand through their gills? I have kept a gold headed sleeper goby and a orange diamond goby with much sucsess.

noschmo · #18 07/15/2006, 06:23 PM

Your not picking out a new car car here

That said, most gobies sift sand so make sure your using fine sand and that there are plenty of area for the little guy to work. Additionaly, be prepared for your tank bottom to be rearranged to the goby's liking. Don't get one if this bothers you. Gobies rule!

hgbarwick · #19 07/15/2006, 08:13 PM

No that dosen't bother me.

DarkXerox · #20 07/16/2006, 03:19 AM

Get one that pairs with your species of shrimp. It pairs with a yasha hase goby or a banded goby. They're unnamed species, but are of the Stonogobiops genus. Here's a good article on them: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2002/Fish.htm

Heh, after all this I might have to pick one up once I mount all my frags from the sand

hgbarwick · #21 07/16/2006, 11:09 AM

I will probably get the highfin red banded goby. The yashas are to expensive.

Jordan55 · #22 07/16/2006, 12:03 PM

You do realize that sand sifting gobies and shrimp gobies are two different types of fish. You will probably find very few, if any, that do both.

Nano_reeflover · #23 07/16/2006, 02:16 PM

Jordan, nice lory. Is he yours? Sorry for the O/T post

noschmo · #24 07/16/2006, 09:20 PM

Best sand sifter:Orange Diamond Goby. Also, likes to aquascape tank to his or her liking but very cute little guys.