I'd like to get a goby

Cali Kid · 09-10-2002, 12:41 AM

I'd like to get a goby or two for my reef tank and I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a 125g main tank with 60g sump. Corals are LPS and softies.

I also have a 6in. oolitic sand bed.

I have the following fish already:
1) Yellow Tang
1) Strawberry Gramma
1) 6-Line Wrasse
1) Maroon Clown
1) Yellow Tail Damsel

Note: The top of my tank is open....no capet surfers

Thanks,

Sean

Big Dave · 09-10-2002, 01:50 AM

Well, unfortunately most of the gobies are jumpers IME. I would also be leary about the gramma conflicting with a goby as well. My gramma likes to find all of the little holes in and under rocks, but they may get along.

Is getting some 'eggcrate' to cover the top of your tank a possibility? Should be able to find it at your local home depot type store. HTH

-Big Dave

JennM · 09-10-2002, 09:11 AM

I love gobies

they are among my faves. Watch for conflicts, but many gobies are peaceful, colourful additions.

The eggcrate is a good suggestion -- and as for carpet surfers, I've lost 2 six-lines to the floor. The gramma can surf too -- IME ANY fish can jump -- at the store I had about a 3 lb. longhorn cowfish that jumped -- I never would have thought he'd get the airspeed -- but he did.

Jenn

Alice · 09-10-2002, 11:09 AM

Cow fish...air speed...LOL! I know it's not funny to lose a fish for any reason but those two phrases in the same sentence made me chuckle

I love gobies; Yellow and Green Clown gobies, Highfin Banded Gobies (Stonigobiops nematodes), Randall's Goby, Pretty Prawn gobies, Sailfin gobies...the list goes on. Just remember, these little guys are often fierce with their own kind and will really tussle over territory.

Alice

Cali Kid · 09-10-2002, 11:44 AM

Thanks for all the great info. I love the eggcrate idea. I'll pick some up.

My sixline did end up in my sump one time....so he is a bit mischevious.

I also noticed that my gramma did harrass my sixline quite a bit when I introduced the sixline. They get along pretty good now.

Any particular gobies I should try to avoid? Any that will deplete the life in the DSB?

Sean,

Can anyone post some pics of their gobies??

thebigblue · 09-10-2002, 12:06 PM

gobies are great little fish

i have two now in my 125....a yellow clown...and a green citron...

...the green goby adopted my toadstool leather as a home...and the yellow hangs out in my colt...i know the yellow has some kind of slime coat that makes them poisonous to other fish predators...so they seem to kinda have a cocky "you cant eat me" attitude...

i have an open tank too, but i have a canopy that covers three sides (open back) and ive never had a fish carpet surf...ive never even really seen the gobies at the top of the tank...

go for it...you will be glad you did...

brad

Cali Kid · 09-10-2002, 12:21 PM

Thanks Brad,

I should clarify...when I say my tank is open on top I mean I don't have the glass covers on each side of the catwalk. I also have a canopy that only has the back open.

Any pics of your gobies??

thebigblue · 09-10-2002, 01:41 PM

sean

maybe theres a goby that will help keep our calcium up?...

...sorry thats from another post!...

anyway...

i just started playing around with my buddies digital camera, so i will try and take a couple pics of mine tonite...these links dont do these little guys justice...

the yellow clown...

http://fins.actwin.com/species/index.php?t=9&i=100

the green citron...

http://fins.actwin.com/species/index.php?t=9&i=101

i also forgot to mention my red-head goby...another cool little guy that lives under a rock and is kinda see-thru...

http://qualitymarineusa.com/fish/photo/gobies/2821.html

as far as the egg crate thing, i thought about doin that, but i think i read somewhere that it can block some of the light gettin to your tank, and i would also worry about the heat (if you have MHs)...

since you have a three sided canopy like me, you might wanna just cut a strip of egg crate that is the length of your tank but only like 4 or 5" deep and just put in on the very back of the tank...that way the fish will bounce off the canopy walls on the other three sides...and you wont effect your lights...

HTH

brad

Cali Kid · 09-10-2002, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the links Brad. good idea on the eggcrate.

Got some good info goin here

Thanks everyone

mojoreef · 09-10-2002, 04:53 PM

No you cant have one..........................not until you eat your meat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cali Kid · 09-10-2002, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mojoreef
No you cant have one..........................not until you eat your meat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't gonna eat the pudding

I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a Goby today.

Too funny

Alice · 09-10-2002, 10:57 PM

OK...somebody help out an old lady with memory problems here

One side of the eggcrate is thinner on the edge than the other, if it's placed correctly, it can actually help focus light rather than diffuse it. That's its purpose in life with florescent overhead lighting. So who remembers if the thin edge or the thicker edge is supposed to be pointed down??

Alice

Alice · 09-10-2002, 11:05 PM

Oh, and I meant to say that Blennies are cool too; Bi-Color Blennies, Midas Blennies and Barnacle blennies to name a few. I've had a couple run-ins with ornery Red-Lip Blennies, so I steer clear of those.

Goby page

Tons o' Goby pics
(Sorry...the text is in Japanese but the pics are great!)

Cali Kid · 09-11-2002, 12:26 AM

Hey thanks Alice.

I'll check out those links.

I'm pretty sure your right about the purpose of the eggcrate...just not sure which side goes up.

Blennies are cool. I'm not fixated on a goby, I guess I've just got the fish bug again and I would like something that hangs out at the bottom and stirs up the sand a bit to benefit from gas exchanges and keep it clean. Oh and definitely lookin for something with lots of personality.

Thanks again

Sean