Gold headed sleeper gobie...upon further review...

[Anonymous]

Well, when I had a fowlr I purchased a goldheaded sleeper gobie upon doing my research and finding out that he was reef safe. I always planned on going reef so I made sure that the inhabitants before the corals were safe. He's an awesome fish that is doing well. Eats like a pig. And therein lies the problem. It was ok when it was just LR, but now every piece of coral I have is getting buried under the sand that he sifts. If I move it up on the rock out of the sand, he just moves over the corals while he sifts and it is again buried. It is a dailey ritual now of me opening the tank and getting my baster out and blasting the corals with water to rinse them. Getting really frustrated. Is there anything that can be done that I am not seeing or am I going to have to find a new home for him? I would really like to keep the guy but the dailey rinsing is getting a bit old. Open to suggestions.

RLTW

 

[hectina]

That is the drawback to these fish. I considered purchasing a sandsifter too, but I decided against it because:

1. the problem you just mentioned
2. they soon strip the live sand of life

I would trade the little guy back in.

 

[danmhippo]

If you value the life inside of your sandbed high, then you will have to return them. If the gobies are accepting other food other than just the sand critters (such as flakes, frozen...etc), then there is hope. You can use flat pieces of LR to cover up most of sand bed adjacent to the coral pieces.

Just so you know, golden head sleeper are notorious for sifting sand and spread the grains across LR. If you had the orange diamond spotted sleepers, they do not swim up to the water column after sifting mouthful of sand. Rather, the spotted sleepers would leave the mouthful of sand where it once was. The orange spotted is highly recommended in your case...............that is if you don't mind that critters in your sandbed would be eaten.

BTW, depending on how big is your sleeper goby, most would not eat fire worms and mini sand stars. If in your sandbed, you have abundant quantity of worms include the fire worms, then you shouldn't worry about sandbed critters depleting. Most sleepers (say less than 4") only touch on small pods and worms while leaving the larger worms un touched.

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: danmhippo ]

 

[Anonymous]

I am not too worried about the critters in the DSB. I am more worried aboutt he corals. I think I am going to havet o trade the old guy in. Just not sure on how to catch the bugger. Trial and error coming up.


RLTW

 

[DJ88]

Another good sifter that does not climb the water column to eat is the two spot or crab eyegoby. I have also heard of it called a four wheel drive goby. these guys are the coolest little gobies I have seen. As for the eating they only get the very top of the sand bed. Abotu 1/4 of an inch.. if that.. I'd say less. Mine is great to watch.. here is a link for it...

Four Wheel Drive Goby