Blennies, Gobies.....

[jay]

I'm wanting something that is going to maintain the sand bed in my tank. I was thinking of picking up a Yellow Watchmen Goby
I have a 46g tank, should I have more than one? Or should I maybe purchase something else?

Thanks in advance Nanotank Gang!

Jay

 

[Trogdor]

Be prepared to have your sand all moved to one side of the tank and a bare spot where the sand once was. These guys can add some good enjoyment to watching your tank but can wreak havoc on a deep sand bed. If your sand bed isn't used for filtering then I don't see any harm in having one or two.

 

[Tony]

There are a couple of sand mover that are really good. I had a gold spot who would move the sand so much that it always looked like i had just put it in, in piles. He unfortunately jumped into my sump and ........ :x .
i have a lawn mower blenny that likes to stir up the sand at the bottom but he doesnt sift.
You also have to make sure that your live rock is firm on the bottom of your tank or else they will remove the sand and the rocks can move. OTher than that i would get another with out a question.
Tony

 

[skipm]

If all you are looking for is a sandbed janitor then I would recommend nassarious snails, they bury themselves in the sandbed until they smell food and then they come out like night of the living dead or something.

 

[Semo]

If all you are looking for is a sandbed janitor then I would recommend nassarious snails, they bury themselves in the sandbed until they smell food and then they come out like night of the living dead or something.

Agreed!! about both points....expecially the living dead part...they do look like zombies when they come scootin across the sand..

 

[reefman23]

I have a YWG and I wouldnt consider him a sand-sifting goby. He only really sifts the sand when he is hungry.

I agree that nssarius snails would be your best bet.

Jesse

 

[drty811]

i have had YWG and chacha has him now, never meesed up my sand bed. my yasha hase gobies dont either but my pistol shrimp can reak havick in my tank.

 

[Angel]

I have a pair of yellow headed jaw-fish and don't really consider them sand sifters, but they do shift the sand into piles. I placed my rock on buried PVC-C shaped pieces because of the avalanche that the sand moving caused.

I also agree with the nassarius snails, if you don't have a six-line wrasse. Mine thinks that they are food just for him but I have heard others don't have that problem.

 

[jay]

My LFS suggested I get a 'Diamond Watchman Goby'.... and maybe a few nassarius snails. I saw the DW Goby in action, and it looked like they moved things around like mad (they even burrow under through the sand)!

My LFS commented that the YWG is if-E-, some times you get some that move stuff around, but in most cases they don't.

Thoughts?

Thx Again!
Jay :cool1:

 

[Trogdor]

DWG need about 60g tanks IMO. They were what i was referring to in my original post, apparently I wasn't paying attention. I had one in a 20g that tore it to shreds. One day i would find all of the sand on one side...then the next it was on the other side. Be prepared if you get the DWG. I usually try to stay away from most gobies just from my experience with my DWG.

 

[johnanddawn]

true sand sifters ie sleeper gobies generally do not do well in smaller tanks - they need a huge amount of sand to sift through to feed. they also can as said move a lot of sand around and even bury corals that you place on the sand bed. yellow watchman are great additions and will only escavate in and around their choosen home. of the two i would recommend a watchman but not a sleeper.

 

[jay]

If all you are looking for is a sandbed janitor then I would recommend nassarious snails, they bury themselves in the sandbed until they smell food and then they come out like night of the living dead or something.

I like the Snail idea!!!

Thx Skipm, and everyone else for there thoughts :langle

Jay