Three questions: shrimp gobies, Firefish and turretfish 03/21/2008
Good morning and hope it is as beautiful there as it is here in Colorado!
<<Good morning. A beautiful day here in sunny England too today. Andrew at your service today>>
I'm afraid I have three questions. I hope you don't mind.
<<Don't mind at all>>
One of my tanks is a 28 gallon nano, about 4 years old. Very pretty little tank with nice zoos, pulsing xenia, and polyps. For the past two years, I have had, among its occupants, a Amblyeleotris guttata (orange-spotted shrimp goby) and a Stonogobiops nematodes (hi-fin shrimp goby). The first is paired with a Alpheus bellulus (tiger pistol shrimp) and the second with a Alpheus randalli. Recently I came into possession of a Amblyeleotris wheeleri (you call him a gorgeous prawn goby on your web site) and since I couldn't put him into my big reef tank for a variety of reasons, I put him in the nano.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the orange-spotted goby bonded with the wheeleri and they share a burrow, although usually they sit at opposite ends, and the color on the orange-spotted is the best it has ever been. He also stays out more. I didn't think they would fight but am very pleased they are buddies. I would like to add a Alpheus shrimp for the wheeleri. Do you see a problem with this?
<<Sounds like they have formed a nice friendship. I don't see any problems adding this>>
My second question has to do with this tank as well: I have had a purple Firefish in there, (Nemateleotris decora), also for about two years. I recently bought a second purple Firefish, after seeing a friend's pair (regular Firefish) and although the resident doesn't seem to chase or spar with the newcomer, the new Firefish is remaining hidden almost all of the time. ( I have had him a little less than a week. ) Is there anything I should be concerned about? I know that if he continues to hide, he will not get enough to eat. I don't think I have two males, as there would be more obvious aggression, I think? Should I take the new one back to the store before he starves?
<<There is nothing to be overly concerned with, the fish will just be getting used to the environment and will probably be picking for food after lights out. Some fish do take a while to get used to their new surroundings.>>
My third and final question has to do with a camel-backed cowfish or turretfish, (Tetrosomus gibbosus). I have had him for the past year and a half in my 150 gallon reef tank and he is a real favorite with everyone. Yesterday morning, my husband found him on the floor and we are all very sad. I know this fish is not a jumper per se but is very active at night. I have seen him with the nightlights. Is this just an unfortunate incident or could someone have chased him out? The only candidate is (I know you won't believe this, but the Lyretail Anthias and the ornate wrasse not only go to ground at night, they never chase him) is a (of course smaller) citron clown goby who had taken a dislike to him, similar color, I think) and chased him occasionally, usually at feeding time. I almost certainly cannot catch the goby without tearing the tank apart, so if you think that's what happened. I will resign myself to not getting another turret.
(or trying to find a way to cover it but with the halides/lighting system, etc. it is difficult. )
<<It is possible that it was spooked by another fish which caused it to jump and if this is the case, i am surprised that it did not release any toxins into the tank as these "do" have the capacity to wipe out a complete system with this. In my opinion, with you current stock, i would not add another>>
Thank you as always for your wonderful site and advice. I gave Mr. Fenner's book to a friend and I don't think she is going to give it back, so I will just have to buy another one!
<<He he he he...it happens, get yourself another copy ;o)
Jeanne Brown
<<Thanks for the questions Jeanne, hope this helps. A Nixon>>

Pistol shrimp/goby joy  8/13/07
Hi guys. For once this isn't a panicky question about an aquarium disaster. We just wanted to thank you for all the information on the site about shrimp gobies and their shrimps. We (rather naughtily) bought a "tangerine striped goby" from our LFS yesterday, having gone there intending to buy a copperband (they didn't have any). Admittedly, this goes against your golden rule of never buying anything on a whim and without reading up on it first, but our trusted LFS manager said it should be fairly easy to keep. We got him home and found that he's really a Randall's Shrimp Goby, did a bit of reading, and decided we'd try to find a shrimp to keep him company. Today we've brought home a tiger pistol shrimp, and within an hour of putting the shrimp in, the two have become completely inseparable. It's amazing to watch, and the shrimp is very entertaining to watch as he tries to build a burrow. Just felt we should share this with someone!
Jim+Jo
<Greetings. A while back I kept a whole tankful of snapping shrimps, and it was one of the most fun tanks I've kept. It's funny, but things like snapping/pistol shrimps and mantis shrimps are often written off as pests by reef keepers, but when the focus of their own tanks, become engaging pets. Snapping shrimps are incredibly hardy (these were, at least) and because of where the tank was set up, water changes were something that happened once a month, if that. It was the most basic aquarium imaginable: undergravel filter, no chiller (these were coldwater shrimps), and certainly no skimmer or living rock for water quality management. But they thrived! I can't be sure if they bred, but they certainly grew, and their numbers seemed to remain steady. The noise that came from the tank was quite eerie sometimes, like crumpling leaves. Anyway, all this is by way of saying I'm glad you're trying something a bit different, and wish you every success with your new pets. Cheers, Neale>

Yellow Watchman Goby 1 - Hermit Crab 0, adding "corals"   6/23/07
Bob,
Thank you for your quick reply. My company is about to make the big switch ourselves and I’m am definitely not looking forward the fallout. Enclosed is the original email.
<Good>
Thanks again for all your help,
Matthew
Hello WWM crew,
Thanks for all your past help!
The weirdest thing just happened. A small hermit crab was walking past my Yellow Watchman Goby’s cave when the Goby came flying out grabbed the crab and carried him back into his hideout. I couldn’t believe what I saw, I did lots of reading about YWG and hadn’t seen anything like this. 30 seconds later crab came out of the cave and was about 3in away when the Goby grabbed him and hauled him back in. I was able to count the crabs later and he was still alive. Did a search of WWM and couldn’t find any accounts of something like this happening. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
<These gobies are carnivorous... will capture, consume crustaceans like Hermits...>
One other question while I’ve got you here. On a completely different topic… coral. Never worked with coral before so I’ve been doing lots of reading. I have a 40T Eclipse system. I’ve seen reports of people having success with smaller Eclipse systems but haven’t seen anything about a 40T type setup. I just have the standard Eclipse equipment with 2 power heads, crushed coral substrate and live rock.
Stock wise I have the Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Clownfish.
1 Cleaner shrimp
And a hermit crab/snail clean up crew
Still in the stocking stage and thought I should look into whether or not coral was an option and begin to tailor my stock list around that. If possible I’d be looking beginner level with bright colours. Would this be possible without the addition of hardware? If not would it be possible with the addition of hardware?
Thanks for all your help,
Matthew
<Well... there are a few groups of what folks call "Corals" (not the true softs (Alcyonaceans) or hard/stonies (Scleractinians)... these would need more light, filtration...) that you can/could consider... Please take a cursory read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/index.htm
By group... re Systems, Compatibility, Feeding... Bob Fenner>

Blind banded high fin shrimp goby
Hello!
Thanks in advance for your help.
<Welcome>
I have had my shrimp goby for about 8 months now and he has always hidden in the live rock and darted out to eat.
<Generally what they do... in the wild and captivity>
On several occasions, he darted out and looked as if he had difficulty finding his way back in the hole. He would bump into the rock repeatedly trying to get back in. Now I believe he is completely blind. I did not see him coming out to eat and then I found him just hanging out in the open, not reacting to any of the other inhabitants unless they touched him.
Lucky for him, all the other fish are peaceful. I scooped him up with my hand a placed him in a shallow glass bowl on the sand (with sand and live rock rubble inside) to keep track of him and I have been hand feeding him for 3 days now.
He eats like a champ if I stick Mysis right in his face. Other than acting blind, he looks perfectly normal. Ever hear of this before? Any ideas on treatment?
<Mmm... have heard of these "blindings"... likely nutritional in origin (avitaminoses)... but could be a pathogen at play... perhaps something environmental... A cure not likely>
His eyes are perfectly clear and all my other fish are healthy. He was the last fish I added 8 months ago. The tank is a 54 corner reef with a sump and refugium, 50 lbs of live rock, and a 2 inch sand bed. My water  parameters are fine. The other fish are a flame angel, yellow wrasse, black and  white ocellaris, and 3 Chromis. I also have a fire shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. I usually feed Mysis and occasionally Cyclop-eeze, flake, or blood worms. I was wondering if it could be some sort of nutritional deficiency.
<Yes, this is most likely... You could/might try reversing this with soaking foods in a vitamin/HUFA mix like Selcon... Please see WWM re.>
Thanks so much for your time. I look forward to your answer.
Angela Collison
<Bob Fenner>

Re: Watchman Goby not acting goby like 6/6/07
Thanks so much...
<Welcome! You're quick!>
I only have a small perc clown and a PJ cardinal (also small) in the tank.
Two hermits and a turbo snail.
Everything just ignores him.
<Sounds good.>
I only disturb their lifestyle to feed, and occasionally replace pieces of coral that the snail decides to rearrange.
I apologize for the timing.
<Just bustin' your chops.>
He was in QT for 9 days and then has been in the display tank for two weeks (it always helps to check the calendar). I followed the directions on the Maracyn, which was to dose for 5 days. After the 5 days, I replaced the carbon filter and let him hang out for 4 more. I usually QT for two weeks, so this was coming up just short of.
<If time isn't a problem, I would QT for longer. I also advocate treatment (which includes observation after symptoms fade) lasting 3-5wks.>
I only started trying to persuade him to move in the past day, because I was worried, and wanted to see what his response would be if I tried to move him.
<Understood.>
I would take him out and treat again with Maracyn, but I am afraid of overstressing with another move.
<Probably the right move, here. Why risk more stress with a move to a less favorable site? Let's just watch and wait and consider what we see. I should ask, how large is this setup? Is it configured to be conducive to watchman goby burrowing (soft sand, caves, etc.)? >
Thanks again for the advice and quick reply.
<Thank you!>
If you have any other suggestions, I am always up for great advice :)
Thanx!!
Rachael Moore
<Have you tried switching your car insurance to Geico?
-GrahamT>

Re: Watchman Goby not acting goby like 6/6/07
Either you have only a few interesting sick fish questions, or this is the best sick goby question ever... I can't believe the response time.
<Maybe all the other Q's were out of my league, or maybe I have a thing for gobies. Actually, I had a feeling your system was small and I can relate to the "need" to throw the fish into the display and "see what happens". Fortunately for my service accounts, and my fishies, I got over it.>
Incidentally, I switch my car insurance every month, just so I can go back to Geico. (If only I liked Australian geckos that much:))
The setup is small...
20gal cube, 3in sand bed, 15 lbs live rock, several corals (hammer, torch, zoanthid, bubble, star polyps, xenia, Acropora) small powerhead,
hang on AquaClear filter... that about covers it. Not anything horribly impressive, but I thought it would be a good goby home.
<We'll wait and see how it turns out, but these gobies are usually happier with a little more space. They do get larger than a 20g will comfortably accommodate...>
The next step was going to be to wait a month or two and add a pistol shrimp, but if I don't have a happy goby... that idea is out.
<You also never know if the pair will, well, pair.>
Don't worry about the chop bustin...I have to work at being patient. I still have a way to go.. so you weren't far off in your bustin :)
<Good luck!
P.S. You might try a different test kit or bringing some water to your LFS for corroboration (sp?) on the nitrates. Your bioload is rather high...>
Thanx!!
Rachael Moore
<-GrahamT>

Dilemma with blue spotted watchman goby  6/4/07
Two nights ago, my blue spotted shrimp goby began acting very strange or sick, and yesterday became pale. He has been very interesting and healthy in the two years I've had him. Never one problem. He is paired up with a pistol shrimp and they are quite amazing to watch. The other night the goby was slumped over in front of the main tunnel of the cave. He looked wore out I did not think he would make it through the night. This came on out of nowhere. The next day, he was outside the cave with the shrimp as usual, but unresponsive to any movement outside the tank....very unusual.
<... What is influencing this fish?>
He does not seem anywhere near lethargic as he was, but still seems pale. Last night after observing him for hours, he seems at times to remember the cave openings, goes to them, then becomes disoriented. He acts as if he knows where he is, then moments later, wonders to a part of the bottom of the aquarium as if he is looking for the cave opening, but it's nowhere near there. He remains at
this time dwelling slowly about. He never left his shrimp's side; now he is wondering far past the shrimp and goes in circles as if confused or blind. Generally when you would come close to him he would swim swiftly into the cave, and at times you could go right up to him. Right now you can be right up to him at the glass and make many quick movements and he does not flinch. Is it possible that he went blind and if so how? Can you please help with any information as to what could be troubling this healthy interesting goby? Thank you.
<I wish I could... is this "old age"?... Are there other fishes present? How are they behaving?>
I did try every option possible for seeking an explanation on the website. Nothing came close in FAQ or chatrooms. Registering on the site was unavailable also. I really need help.
Cindy R
<The "usual", S.O.P. of water changes, testing, food supplementation, possibly use of chemical filtrants is about all I would advise here. Bob Fenner>

Re: Dilemma with blue spotted watchman goby 6/6/07
Bob,
<Cindy>
Thank you for your reply. In addition, let me add this; this Goby, other than being blind, has an excellent appetite, and acting more like normal, short of his eyesight. Water is checked regularly, and all parameters are good. Other fish are doing excellent. Diet is the same it's been for the past 2 years: Mysis shrimp, diced shrimp, scallops, and brine. We believe this goby is approximately 3 years old.
<This is about as long as this and related species (congeners) live...>
No one has heard of such a condition, but it has become obvious that he is blind. Under close inspection, at certain angles, his eyes have a glaze or cloud of some sort. We are wondering if this is old age, since everything else is in great condition. Thanks again for your help.
Cindy
<I do think you are correct here re "cumulative genetic defects"... aka "old age"... BobF, feeling older>