Rainford Goby

[RealRed]

Hi,
I have a Rainford goby in a 24g AquaPod...he acts fine but looks to be getting skinnier. I had a sand sifter die before and I worry about whether there is enough to eat in the tank. what can I do?
thanks, Pam

[nemmy]

Very nice looking fish which is why alot of people buy them.In the UK they are usually called clown jester goby.
Very hard to keep due to being specialised feeders.They need a diet of podlife and most fish won't eat anything else and are doomed to starve in captivity.

[Jadinop]

Rainfords goby requires filamentous algae (not hair algae, unfortunately) as a part of it's diet. Doesn't do well in most tanks as many of us go out of our way to erradicate algae from our systems.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/3/fish

[RealRed]

I just found the responses...after I posted another thread. sorry. I'm a newbie and came in a different way this time I guess.
Anyway, this makes me really sad. I can't stand to watch him waste away....no hope?

[cutietwo]

find somebody else with a bigger tank and more algae is my only advice.

[Loverotties]

Not easy to keep.

[RealRed]

i went to the Internet to look them up and the care says "easy"......i'm so bummed. I tried to catch it today but hides under base rock. I was hoping to move to someone else's tank.

[nemmy]

Try some lobster eggs scattered around the rocks.With a bit of luck he may start to feed.Most of these gobies will feed on the algae off the liverock[not hair algae]but they also need small animal life to do well as they aren't soley vegetarians.