Golden or Blueband Sleeper Goby Question

[Melissa]

Scientific name: Valencienna strigata

My LFS has a pair of these that I would like to get. I looked them up in my Marine Fishes book by Scott Michael. He gives this fish a rating of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 for keeping them in captivity. I'm wondering why that is? I like this book but some of the fishes are not described but for a small photo, scientific name and overall rating for captive keeping. Everything else I have read about them says they are easy to care for and very peaceful fish.

Another question. I have a quarantine tank where I keep all new fish for a few weeks to observe. It is bare bottom. Since this is a sand sifting goby, will they be ok in a bare bottom tank for quarantine of three weeks? The only fish I did not quarantine is the mandarin for fear that he would not eat. He was the first fish in the tank and was alone for over three weeks, so he was quarantined effectively in the display tank.

Thanks,
Melissa

[Melissa]

anyone have experience with these fish or other sand sifting goby?

[rwdandald]

I do not know that particular fish. With sand sifting gobies you can put a glass pie plate or bowl of sand into the QT with them for them to "sift" while in qt. If you do need to treat then you will have to throw away a relatively small amount of sand. I agree that it would stress a sifter to put them in an environment without sand. (btw - the sand is not apt to stay put in the bowl very well - as they like to throw it out )

[JennM]

I disagree with the "2" rating in Scott Michael's book. Do make sure the fish is eating prepared foods in the store before you buy - sometimes they can be a bit picky and if you don't have enough "food" in your sandbed (or q-tank) they can go hungry. Also, don't buy if the fish looks thin or has a pinched belly. They seem somewhat prone to intestinal worms/parasites and often the only obvious symptom is thinness.

Otherwise they seem to be a fairly easy, hardy fish.

HTH

Jenn

[Melissa]

Thank you all so much. They looked fat and happy at the store. I'll ask them how they are eating. Also - I would like to get two - do you think they will be alright if they are not a mated pair?

I'll use the pie plate idea for sand for them. Thanks for the tip - I was trying to figure that one out.

Melissa

[JennM]

Don't just ask if it's eating. SEE it eat. Any shop worth spending money in, should feed the fish if you ask.

I've been looked at like I had 2 heads in some stores when I've asked to see a fish eat... even had a clerk roll his eyes when I asked. But if the fish does not eat, I don't buy. At the very least, if the fish doesn't eat right away in your own tank, you know when he had his last meal, and that he is in fact, accepting prepared foods. Those are two things that IMO are critically important for the chances of the fish adapting to captivity, but they are the most often overlooked.

If any fish is not eating in the store, don't buy it. If the store refuses to offer food while you watch, run, do not walk, out of the store.

Jenn

[Melissa]

They have fed other fish for other customers while I was there, so I know they don't mind at all.

Thanks, Jenn!

Melissa