Diamond goby

BlennyMan1 · 05-12-2005, 02:01 AM

Im thinkin about gettin a diamond goby....ive got a 55 gal reef tank with about 50 lbs live sand. I was wonderin if these buggers mess up the tank like get sand everywhere ad make a mess out of everything? ive been haing a little brown algae problem on my sand and iw as thinkin this might help clear it up and stirring up the sand bed a little can always be good. just wanted to know what you guys thought about the fish.

my second quick question was that I wanted to know if adding a small red sea star 3" diameter (dont know the name) would add much onto the bioload, like as much as if i were to add a fish of the same length?
-thanks

wharyat · 05-12-2005, 02:20 AM

How old is your tank? If it's around a year, then I would say yes; you wouldnt have to increase food input. If your tank is younger than you will need to target feed him at least once a day, or squirt the food into the sand so he can sift it out.

Loverotties · 05-12-2005, 05:46 AM

Them and a dart goby are good at that ,but they are jumpers so cover the top.

TrojanScott · 05-12-2005, 11:09 AM

Agreed, they'll jump. I've lost a couple in the past, and have since screened the back of my canopy. No problems so far. (knock on wood!)

They do sift sand, and keep it clean, that's for sure. Cool fish to watch work.

reef madman · 05-12-2005, 08:08 PM

i got a diamond goby last week and he has done a wonderful job at cleaning the sand. looks white again after being totally covered in algae. first few days tank was a mess from the sand dust he made but it is all settled now. also if your rock is unsteady, i would be cautious. my goby has built tunnels under all my LR. also the advice given on them being jumpers, i learned the hard way and had my first one i got 2 weeks ago jump out of my tank the first day i got him. found him all shriveled up on the floor 3 days later, from advice i was given here to look around on floor after i didnt see him for 3 days. i use an eggcrate top and he still managed to jump through. since, i have put up a screen around tank to keep the one i have in, should he decide to do a kamakazee jump out. i really like my goby and they do an excellent job at sifting the sand.

Loverotties · 05-13-2005, 12:22 AM

I reread my post and see I wasn't clear.The Diamond are the jumpers but the Dart Goby doesn't.

salty65gal · 05-13-2005, 12:44 AM

My diamond died. I had 80 lbs ls in my 65 gal. Kinda funny that my Mandarin is still living, got them both as my first fish and put them in when tank was only 4 days old!!!! Now tank is 4 months and mandarin still doing good, I got LUCKY!!!!!!!

tims · 05-13-2005, 07:13 AM

Just remember that he is looking for food in the sand. and he will make some lovly tunnels under your LR.they are very cool to watch.

BlennyMan1 · 05-13-2005, 07:54 PM

which one of the two gobies either the dart goby or the diamond goby has a smaller final size? im kinda worried about the size the diamond gets i read it gets 6 inches! thanks for the input ill look into the dart before i decide on the diamond.

tims · 05-13-2005, 08:07 PM

here is some info on darts if it is the same variation everyone is talking about. they can get up to 12 cm long.