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>>