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FAQs on Amblygobius Gobies, Selection

Related Articles: Genus Amblygobius Gobies

Related FAQs:  Amblygobius Gobies 1, Amblygobius Gobies 2, & FAQs on: Amblygobius Identification, Amblygobius Behavior, Amblygobius Compatibility, Amblygobius Systems, Amblygobius Feeding, Amblygobius Disease, Amblygobius Reproduction, & True Gobies Gobies 2Goby Identification, Goby Behavior, Goby Selection, Goby Compatibility, Goby Feeding, Goby Systems, Goby Disease, Goby Reproduction, Clown GobiesNeon GobiesGenus Coryphopterus Gobies, Mudskippers, Shrimp Gobies, Sifter Gobies

I'm back in the hobby! Query re stocking, mixing sand gobies      12/9/18
Gentlemen,
<And ladies...>
It's been a long time for me - but, I'm back in the hobby in a much
smaller
way.
<Ahh! Welcome back to the fold>
Used to follow threads on your website faithfully.
I have a 45g AIO tank with a Rainford Goby. He's cute and active - but really can't keep up with the sand sifting that needs to be done.
Question: Would it be wise to add a Golden Head Goby - or would there likely be too much territorial fighting? I realize each tank (fish) is different - but, in general is this a bad idea?
<They'd likely get along fine, but if it were me, mine in such a size, shape system, I'd go with either two Rainford's or two Golden Head gobies. More interesting behaviorally.>
Thanks
Gene
<Welcome! Bob Fenner>
Re: I'm back in the hobby!     12/9/18

Thank you so much. That seems like a wise recommendation. I’ll get another Rainford.
<Cheers Gene. BobF>

Skinny Rainford, Chances of Recovery   1/29/09 Hi, <Hello there> Thank you for taking time to answer my query. I'm no stranger to gobies, and I keep a goby specific QT stocked with liverock, sand, algae and contains numerous small crustaceans running at all times. Since I researched the diet of Rainford and its congeners, I added large amounts of various hair algae species to the QT and made sure that other live food sources had sufficiently developed before the Rainford's arrival. I observed the Rainford eating at store, though it did look slightly pinched ventrally and slim laterally, he did not have an arched posture. Even though the fish is eating live critters and prepared foods (enriched brine shrimp, Cyclop-eeze, brine nauplii, and prawn ova), it still hasn't accumulated significant body mass in about one month. <Unfortunately all too typical> It has however, become more colorful and active. <Good signs> Despite those positive signs, I'm concerned that my Rainford Goby maybe too emaciated to fully recover. <Also very common> Based on your experience, does this fish seem as though it has a chance or are my efforts only prolonging the inevitable? <I am not a fan of giving up... perhaps too stubborn for my own, others good at times... I would "hang in there"... keep trying, adding refugium life, more frequent, soaked (HUFA, vitamin) foods...> Thank you for your time, SI <And you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Re: Marks appearing on fish, Amblygobius & BF sel. 01/19/09 Hi Bob, <Nick> I'm pleased to report my Eibl's lesion has cleared up nicely! <Ah, good> I got my goby the other day too, supposedly A. phalaena, I thought it looked a bit pale when I collected it but figured it may just be stress colouration, actually after a bit of fishbasing (word?!) it turns out I have an A. bynoensis! I even gave the LFS the scientific name too. <Interesting: http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=55505&genusname=Amblygobius&speciesname=bynoensis> I notice there's not much info on this species so was wondering whether you have any experience with them? <Have never seen this fish, in captivity or the wild> Can I assume its husbandry requirements are similar to A. phalaena? <Very likely so> I was also wondering if you think my tank would be suitable for one of the larger b/fly species such as C. lunula, C. auriga or one of the Forcipiger spp or should I stick with one of the smaller spp? (I'm thinking melanotus or punctatofasciatus)? <Mmm, the shape being what it is... I would likely skip a Butterfly entirely... too likely to be too nervous in not being able to "get away"> The tanks 280l (46"x24"x15") with a 100l sump/fuge, 35kg LR, decent water movement and a Turboflotor 1000 skimmer. Residents are 1 Centropyge eibli, 2 Amphiprion ocellaris and the Amblygobius phalaena. The b/fly would be the last fish. Thanks again, Nick <I'd keep looking if it were me, my tank. Cheers, BobF>

Re: Marks appearing on fish 01/19/09 I'll attempt to get a decent photo of it in the near future. <Ok> Hmm cheers for the advice on the b/fly, will scrap that idea, I take it they need more height to feel secure? <Mmm, more width and length actually> The only other fish on my wish list was Halichoeres melanurus although I'd be concerned about competition for pods now I have the goby. <Is a beauty though...> Do you have any suggestions for a crustacean-safe, bold, feature fish that would be happy in this setup? I realise its quite a broad question but let's say if it were your tank and you wanted to finish it off?! <Perhaps with a genus Ctenochaetus tang... Maybe C. hawaiiensis, or C. strigosus... BobF>

Which Sand-Sifting Goby?   6/19/06 Hello help crew, <<Vincent>> The sand in my sand bed is roughly 1mm to 1.5mm sized.  What kind of goby will fit to that? Thanks, Vincent <<Most all of the sand-sifting/sleeper gobies will do fine.  My favorite is Amblygobius phalaena...  Regards, EricR>>

Amblygobius hectori, Hector's Goby, Sel., MAC,    8/22/07 Hello once again, been a little while this time. I may have made a little oopsy in a rushed decision to buy some fish? My current 29 gallon BioCube has been fishless for about 4-5 months so I do have a good pod population but am worried it will not be enough to support 2 Hector's gobies? <Not really social animals... One is what I would stick with> I also have a fair amount of algae in the tank to hopefully help with keeping these fishes fat and happy. Here's what happened since I know you do not like it when people buy fish without research..... I read the FAQ's daily. I work at a LFS and have been waiting to purchase 2 small fish that MAY breed in captivity. Well as I scanned the stocklist and looked at photos and I DID do some reading, I thought this sounded pretty good. I did some quick looking since they were placing the order at that moment and according to SOME sources they are easy to keep. Then I looked on your site which tells me they are not so easy to keep? <IF one can secure initially healthy, not-too-starved specimens, place them in suitable circumstances (not too busy, crowded, well-established, with much micro-fauna...) not terribly difficult> The fish are MAC certified, whatever that means? <Indeed... that the folks involved have acquiesced to being further taxed> I believe it has something to do with how they were caught? <Mmm, most all Amblygobius are hand-netted... simply by locating, stirring up the bottom sand... waiting a bit for them to come out and inspect...> Well I thought I would be in the clear with these 2 small fish but now am really quite worried and hoping they will take to eating frozen foods. If not I'll have to setup a small dedicated refugium which I can breed some pods in, I have plenty of macro algae to set this up so hopefully that will work? I read your articles regarding these gobies but was wondering if you had any other advice for me? I also know you HATE when people ask you these types of questions so please don't think this is my typical fish buying behavior. Thank you. One last thing, I feel obligated to take these fish since I asked that they be ordered for me. Thanks again. <Keep good notes... share your observations. BobF>

Re: Amblygobius hectori, Hector's Goby  8/23/07 Thank you Mr. Fenner. I just received the fish I feel obligated to take, because I had the store order them for me. Anyway the fish look fat and healthy, one is about 2 inches the other is about a inch, this may help or hurt me? <Will help assuredly> I'll keep you updated and let you know what happens when these two fish are kept in the same small tank. If they do fight a lot I can just move one to a different tank. Thanks for your help.......like always. <Welcome Ryan. BobF>

Re: Amblygobius hectori, Hector's Goby  9/2/07 Hello again! Thought I would give you a brief update on these fish. So far there has been no fighting between the 2 and both appear fat. I don't know what they are eating (for sure) but apparently they are finding something. The smaller of the 2 will eat Cyclop-eeze, so that's a bit of a relief, the larger does not appear to be eating it? It could be that the fish eats it after it lands on the sand but I really am not sure. The bigger one is constantly picking at the sand when I feed so maybe that's what he's doing? <In the wild this genus feeds on a great deal of interstitial fauna> Do you have any other suggestions on foods to try? <Mysids of a few species, sizes... soaking whatever is offered in Selcon or such> I added coral frenzy to my main tank once an all the fish went crazy eating the stuff so I wonder if that would work? <Worth trying> I currently don't have any to try but can easily go get some. Also would it be beneficial for me to add phyto in this tank? <For?> Not directly for the fish but for the pods. I am now wondering if these 2 fish can change sex, and could possibly breed in my tank? <Possibly...> Is there a way of telling sex on these fish? <Not as far as I'm aware> Well that was a lot more questions than I intended. Thanks, Ryan. <Thank you! BobF>

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