Shrimp / goby / Fireworm 03/22/2008
Hello! Thank you for all the great info on your site.
<<Hello, Andrew here today>>
When I got my live rock, the shrimp half of a shrimp/goby pair hitchhiked along with it. The shrimp has lived in a burrow in the substrate under one of the rocks for about three months. Today I added the goby to my tank, and he promptly joined the shrimp in the hole. As I was feeding them tonight, they were having trouble getting their food because a fire worm had invaded their burrow and was blocking the entrance. Figuring three was a crowd, I grabbed the fire worm with my hemostats and tried to pull him out. Unfortunately, I ended up tearing the worm in half, and the rest of it is still in the shrimp and goby's home. Is there anything I should do? To remove the rest of the worm, I'd have to lift the rock and destroy the burrow. Will the situation resolve itself if I leave it alone? I think I may be overly anxious because the goby is my first fish.
At a risk of having too much disturbance to the system, i would fill the burrow with sand, effectively blocking it off. Another alternative is to try and trap the worm and remove it that way. Please read over the follow FAQ and linked articles for trapping and removing http://www.wetwebmedia.com/polychaeselfaqs.htm >>
I've been saving my money to buy him ever since I accidentally got the shrimp. Thank you for your advice and all that you do for beginning aquarists like me. In case you are wondering, no, I didn't quarantine the goby. However, I've "visited" him a few times over the past three months at the aquarium shop, and he has showed no signs of disease.
<<As a caution note, its always best to quarantine your inhabitants yourself, this way you have as much time as you need, under your own supervision, to watch the new inhabitants and rectify any issues seen>>
Thank you, Mandy
<<Thanks for the questions, hope this helps. A Nixon>>

Wheeler Goby... sys. 11/29/07
To Crew,
<Parker>
Thanks for all the help. You guys are great. I have been reading your website for a couple years now and have learned so much.
<Okay!>
I recently started a 12g eclipse with about 15lbs LR and an 1"-1 1/2" course substrate. Two clown fish, couple hermit crabs, and arrangement of snails.
(turbo, nauseous,
<Heeee... Nassarius... though they may make you nauseous>
and bumble bee, which look really good with the LR). All levels are sound, good SG 1.023, temp. 78, 8.2 ph, 0 nitrite, and 15 ppm nitrate
(a little high).
<Mmmm, yes>
I recently added a wheeler goby
<Amblyeleotris...>
and a feather duster.
I was wondering if having only an inch to inch and a half of course substrate is enough to effectively keep the goby happy.
<Mmm, and the question of grade/average diameter...>
If this depth it is not enough or the substrate is not fine enough, can I add finer sand to the system.
<Yes>
By adding fine sand to a system, can this potentially cause stress to the fish, cleaners, or LR?
<More likely to relieve stress than cause it here...>
If I can add finer sand, how would I go about doing so?
<Could be just added with... rinsed and placed underwater, as in a plastic scoop...>
Will the goby be able to sift through the substrate?
<If it wants>
Any advice would be great.
Regards,
Parker
<Start planning for the next/larger tank. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Yellow shrimp goby
Hi, I wanted to purchase a yellow shrimp goby. I was looking at a book of marine fish, it said that it may jump out of an open aquarium, is this true?
<Very much so... these are great escape artists>
I have about 3-4 inches of space that is open.
<Way too much!... you might be able to tape it over...>
It also stated that it may eat smaller ornamental shrimps. Not sure what that means but does that include a cleaner shrimp? 
<Not this size, type of (likely Lysmata) shrimp... it should be fine>
One more thing, my live rock rests on my sand bed. Should I worry that it will dig around the rock and cause it to topple?
<Not much of a worry with this size, type fish. I wouldn't be concerned. Bob Fenner>
Thanks
Angelo

Substrate for Goby/Shrimp combo. 8/9/05
Mornin' Bob
<Cheers... Anthony Calfo here in his stead>
First let me apologize if this has gone to the wrong place, I found your link while perusing the Goby section on your excellent pages!
<Welcome!>
I'm considering making a return to the hobby after a break of quite some years and of course a lot's changed since then! While researching current thinking on Reef systems I've got bogged down on the BB/SSB/DSB/Plenum issues and this is compounded by the fact that I'm very keen to house the Goby/Shrimp combination and the obvious effect this will have on substrate choice, plus the fact that I have a very large quantity of  (dead) Oolitic sand which I would like to use in what will be a reef system with very few reef-safe fish, small clawed crustaceans( Lysmata, Thor, Saron) etc.
I think I'm now up to speed re. Live Rock, Skimming, Carbon, Phosphate reduction, Turnover ,Lighting etc. I would like the Goby/Shrimp to be able to exhibit normal behaviour, hence my problem. The system will be integrated within the main tank as I have no space (nor desire) to run a sump. Would their digging spoil a DSB or even release anoxic toxins from a DSB by digging?
<Not at all. If the DSB is kept healthy with adequate (proper and necessary) strong water flow above it so that solids do not accumulate excessively... then all will be fine. And this is easy to accomplish. Seek to produce random turbulent water flow as with closed loop manifolds (you can fid some neat and current links/pics on this subject over at Reefcentral.com)>
You mention adding tubes to the substrate, ( I can't find the link) which I'd thought of.
<Yes, excellent idea. Just bury under the rocks/in the sand and let them do the rest>
Would a 1" substrate with tubes covered with sand be better?
<That's not deep enough for the shrimp and goby or efficient DSB activity (NNR)>
In either case I could never run a system B/B.
<I too very much like deep, fine sand beds. I think your oolitic sand is a best bet. Do enjoy at 4-6" (10-15 cm)>
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer cos I'd prefer not to proceed rather than get it wrong! Kind Regards, Steve.
<kindly, Anthony>

Yashia shrimp goby stuck in refugium   1/21/06
Well I finally got my 30g refugium set up on my 220g tank this week. I put in a 5in sand bed, Gracilaria, Chaetomorpha, and about 5 portions of pods I bought from florida Pets.com.  Everything looks great and seems to be doing good. I see a lot of pod activity, which is my main goal for this tank. I have a lot planktivores in my main (Anthias, fairies wrasses, etc.) and I wanted to keep a suitable amount of zooplankton to feed them. Anyway, my refugium is gravity fed by one of the two overflow outlets on my hang-on overflow box. The other goes to the main sump and skimmer, the refugium also empties into the sump. The first night I set up my refugium I noticed my Yashia Shrimp Goby had not only got caught in the overflow box but made a new home in live rock rubble I set up for my pods in the refugium. I then proceeded to catch him and return him to the main tank. All was fine for a couple days, but now its in there again and loving all the new forage. I'm not only surprised he ventured into the overflow again, I'm wondering how he fit through the grid teeth and how he was so lucky to once again make it down the right outlet into the refugium. Now I know he's obviously more happy in the refugium, but I also know from your book that its no place for him. I guess my question is how much damage can he do to my pending pod population?
<Have to wait/see>
and what can i do to make him stay in the main?
<Better screening>
I have 250lbs of live rock and a live sand. There's no overly aggressive predators in the tank, so I'm wondering why it keeps venturing down the overflow. Would setting up a pile of rubble in the main tank make it more appealing?
Thanks
Brandon  
<Likely "jumping" in response to the water movement. Bob Fenner>