Questions About Valenciennea sexguttata/Six Spot Sleeper Goby/Systems/Feeding 9/21/09
Hi,
<Hello Tony>
I have recently started my first nano reef (4 months old, 34 gallon) and my wife thinks the reef and WWM gets more attention than she does now days :)
<Usual behavior for this species.>
The aquarium is running stable with a small cleaning crew, 2 Amphiprion ocellaris, 1 Meiacanthus oualanensis and a couple of corals I received from friends I made through the new hobby (Euphyllia glabrescens, Euphyllia Parancora, Montipora capricornis, Sinularia Dura and a Lobophytum sp.). The
tank is fed with Brine shrimps, mysis, algae pellets and ordinary flakes alternating.
I'm now searching for a fish that would occupy the lower half of my aquarium and found the Valenciennea sexguttata that looks nice, lives in the lower half and even helps me keep the sand sifted, but I'm not able to
find enough info online that isn't more like rumors and I don't want to make any bad decisions here so I wonder if you would like to comment some of the rumors I have read.
I'm concerned that the fish might be to large for my tank but people (including LFS) say it grows really slow and some keep it in 10 G tanks successfully, would you agree?
<No, this fish does better in larger systems with a well established sand bed.>
Rumors also states that even if it's a sifter it doesn't toss the sand around that much, and it's not any trouble to get it to eat mysis or brine if there isn't enough algae, do you agree?
<I've seen these fish take to prepared foods quickly, and saw an equal amount starve to death. Just sharing my experience with the fish.>
Finally, do you think it's ok to keep the fish with the once I have? I don't have any plans on expanding on the fish side after this last one that needs to be a bottom dweller.
<I would not add, believe it will be short lived in your system.>
Thanks for any help and I really enjoy reading the FAQs on the site :)
<You're welcome and glad you enjoy. James (Salty Dog)>
/Tony

Orange Spotted Goby
I have tried 2 Orange Spotted Gobies in my 150 gal. tank w/ live sand, rock, and coral. I have a full hood on this tank with a 3" open area in the back. The problem is these fish keep jumping out. I did not know this when I purchased the first one (I have never had a fish jump out before) and after purchasing another I covered this opening with Plastic wrap for the first week or two, but he too discovered a small opening in the corner. After the first one, I added some 1" PVC at the base of some rock and #2 immediately made a home and moved a lot of sand around the pipe cavern, I really felt he was fine. The only other fish in the tank are 7 green chromis and they never bothered the gobies. I have 2 sand sifting stars, some red leg hermits and a bunch of snails, none of which should bother them. My brother purchased one at the same time I did and with no lid his seems to be doing fine. 

Orange Spotted Goby
Is the Gold headed Sleeper a jumper as well? How is it with the sand sifting?
Thanks, Jeff Phillips
>>
A good sifter, and jumper... of the same genus (Valenciennea)... 
Bob Fenner

Jumping Gobies!
Good Afternoon (or whatever time it is when you come across this email).
<Afternoon here- Scott F. with you>
This pertains to recently purchased Gobies. I have tried 3 times to keep a Maiden Goby (Valenciennea Puellaris) or sometimes called Diamond Goby. Each time it leaves the comfortable surroundings of my tank for a much harsher environment - the carpeting. I have lost 3 of the same type Gobies this way.
The last one, which jumped last night, lasted less than 12 hours. A little tank information: I have a reef set-up 45 gallon tall. I currently have a little over 13 tank turnovers per hour but my oxygen level is still low so I plan on adding another power head to bring my turnover rate to near 20/hour.
<The low oxygen level is of concern...do add more circulation and surface agitation for gas exchange>
I have removed the top on my aquarium in order to bring the O2 level up with little success. My skimmer is properly sized and working great. After the first Goby committed suicide, I purchased and installed a section of egg crate (louver) over the approx. 4" open section behind my light (light sits directly on top of tank). The second Goby found a way out of this so I decreased some of the cutouts (for HO Skimmer and the like) where there were no openings larger than the 1/2" X 1/2" squares. My 3rd Goby worked his way
out of this last night. I even tried a night light that was suggested. My question is this: I like the Goby and it's sand sifting properties. Is there anything I can do other than covering tank with screen like material and/or buying a Goby larger than the 1/2" openings?
<Unfortunately, I think that using a screen like material is your best bet (Fiberglass, not aluminum), short of covering the whole top with acrylic or plastic. If the fish wants to get out and become "reef jerky", as they say, about all you can do is make the task more difficult for it>
Are there any other Gobies or Goby like fish that sift like the Goby but that don't like to jump?
<Unfortunately, a lot of these types of fishes (sand sifting gobies and Tilefishes) tend to have the jumping habit. Personally, I have always used brittle stars to do the job. In actuality, there are a lot of people who argue (and I think quite correctly, in many cases) that sand-stirring creatures are not needed in most well-maintained sand beds, as they tend to decimate the sandbed fauna that contribute to the function of the sandbed.>
I hate to have to switch to the sand sifting stars. They aren't nearly as fun to watch. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks, J.T. Craddock
<Well, J.T.- I think your best bet is to use the screen material, or to simply discontinue the use of these types of fish in your tank. Wish there was a better solution I could offer, but I think that your options are kind of limited in a situation like this. Good luck! Scott F.>

Sand Sifting Gobies...heavy bio-load and nutrient problems  12/1/05
Hello Crew
<Hello.>
I was at my LFS the other day and became extremely fascinated with the blue cheek gobies they had. Anyways I believe there would be room in my tank which is a 29 gallon FOWLR that consists of 2 ocellaris clowns 1.5" each, 2 yellowtail damsels 1" each, 
<Watch the damsels they may get "evil" with age.>
a six line wrasse 2" and a coral banded shrimp. Right now I have a crushed coral base (but was planning on converting to sand anyways), hang on filter and a small amount of live rock (2lbs maybe). I have had this exact set up for about six months and do 25% water changes once a month. Nitrates are usually in the 30 range.
<This is a bit high... shoot for 10 or less. I would look into a protein skimmer.>
Also I should be upgrading to a 55 gallon within the next year.  Do you think that adding a small (I know they can grow up to 7") blue cheek goby would upset my levels that much if at all. If it would could a solution be adding some small hermit crabs to process the extra detritus, or would adding more live rock be a better alternative. (I already know more water changes would be the best but they're a pain where my tank is at right now so I'm trying to go for convenience.) 
<With your current load I would skip this addition. Not only due to its potential size but also due in part to what is in your tank already. Also more fish will not help your current nutrient problem. This animal also prefers larger tanks with well established Deep Sand Beds.>
Thanks in advance for the guidance
<Welcome.>
Mike Turner
<Adam J.> 

Star(fish) Wars Part III... covered sys.  7/03/06
So after my orange brittle star tried to eat one of my sand sifting stars, I told the aquarium shop if I could return it because it was being aggressive, they said I could but I would get no money or store credit for it. <That’s unfortunate.>  It sucks so I decided to keep it. Since I have two other brittle stars, a greenish, an orange (the aggressive), and a black-reddish one.  Well after that I noticed that my diamond watchman goby was not around, he would always come out of his cave for hours to eat, then yesterday I didn't notice him at all.  I had my fiancé move rocks today and try to find it and when he was checking the wet and dry, long and behold my beloved watchman goby was dry and toasty as a French fry under my dining room table which is next to the tank.  I am just wondering why would he jump out of the tank.  <Perhaps startled by something, running from something, water quality, and sometimes its just a mystery.> I did noticed when I was buying him at the aquarium shop that while the guy was trying to catch him with the net it seemed that he was going to jump out of the tank, he was swimming that fast and up towards the surface, so I am just wondering if it was that perhaps the brittle star tried to eat him or something and to escape, he jumped.  <Possible, they are know as a bit of a jumper anyways.>  I was so sad, it was a great addition to my 180 tank, it had character and really kept my sand super white, along with my sand sifting stars and yellow headed goby. Would you provide with some light here?  I need to know if my thought is correct.  He was like two inches and I thought that I was going to keep him for a long time.
<There are many reasons why fish jump, escaping a predator is just one potential reason, hard to say with any confidence what happened.>
<Chris>

Will a Sleeper Banded Goby be to <too> big for a 30 gallon tank?  11/12/06
Hello, i
<I>
have a 30 gallon tank with a valentini puffer, 2 fire fish,
<Need more room>
and a yellow tailed damsel with about 2 inches of pretty fine sand (1/2 live 1/2 reg sand). Everything has been great the past few months but I am getting a lot of algae growth on my sand that I don't really like so I was thinking about getting a sand-shifter goby. I like the Sleeper Banded Gobies but I herd
<heard>
they can get up to 6" but they are ok in 30 gallon tanks. Do you think he will be ok? if not what would be a good sand-shifter goby? Thank you for
your time.
<Mmm, I wouldn't add one of these here... the system is too small, and already has some fishes that won't appreciate sharing their niche. Bob Fenner>

Re: Will a Sleeper Banded Goby be to big for a 30 gallon tank?  11/12/06
Thanks for the quick response, but is there anything I can get to help move the sand around?
<... please see WWM re... there are articles, FAQs files archived re the topic. RMF>

Sandsifting goby, how big a tank?   9/16/06
Hi there,
<Hello>
I have a 29 tall tank that has 2 (paired) clowns, a few corals and a cleaner shrimp. Tank is quite stable. We would like to add a new fish
and I became enamored by a Sand Sifting Goby at the LFS. It is labeled as a Diamond Goby, but it is more green and brown in color, has bands and two small black spots as well. I think it is a Barred Goby. I would guess the fish is about 2 inches. We put it on hold, but now I am worried we don't have enough sand for it. I also read that they will eat regular food, too.
Is this a bad fish for us? If so, do you have any suggestions on an interesting addition for our tank?
<I think the more important question is how established is your sand bed.  Sand Sifting gobies need a well established sand bed with lots of micro fauna to feed on.  The only problem is that in a small tank, they can sometimes wipe out the entire population.  Yes, some will eat prepared foods, but not always guaranteed.  I would definitely make sure he is eating before you take him home. – Cheers! Dr. J> <<Yep, he's new! RMF>>

Re: Marine Substrate Q; Sand Size for Goby  – 05/08/07
good day to all!
<Hello Again.>
(follow-up question) sir
<No formalities, Adam or AJ is fine.>
regarding the size of my sand, it is about 1mm to 2mm, is that okay for fishes that tend to burrow in the sand like a yellow wrasse and a sand sifting goby? will they get hurt since it is not a sugar fine sand?
<Depends on how small the specimens are, but if your getting an average sized goby, this shouldn't be a problem.>
thanks!
<Welcome, Adam J.>

Sand sifting goby question...sys. mostly   3/2/08
Hello crew,
I've been enamored by the two spot goby (Signigobius biocellatus) since I saw it. I would like to get a pair of these for my 75 gallon tank. I would like to upgrade to a 180 gallon next spring. I know they're not a beginner fish and am committed to keeping them alive. I do I have a 30 gallon sump with the middle part being a refugium with Chaeto and rock rubble. I've got a couple of questions for you, but I'll start off with all my parameters.
SG - 1.025
pH - 8.2
Alk - 9 dKH
Calcium - 400
The current tank inhabitants are a pair of ocellaris clowns who refuse to go into the nice Green BTA that has been in the tank for 8 months (that's a whole 'nother story though), a small (4") powder blue tang, flame angel, a plump mandarin, and an orange Firefish who enjoys hiding. There is about 90 pounds of nice established (3+ years) Live Rock. I have a mixed reef including some SPS, LPS, Zoas and a few other softies.
Water changes happen every other week of about 15 gallons. I dose B-Ionic daily. I skim with an Octopus nw-150, but don't actually get a lot of skimmate.
<I'd look into a better skimmer>
I have a mandarin who is plump and happy. He is doing well. I've had him for about 9 months now. He munches on pods all day. When I feed the tank Formula 1 and 2 pellets he hunts them down as soon as they hit the sand. Do you think I could house a pair of two spot gobies? I wouldn't want any of them to starve.
<May eat too many "pods" to suit your Dragonet>
My second question has to do with sand grain size. I currently have an aragonite play sand. The sand ranges in size from .5mm to just over 1mm. The two spot goby doesn't grow very big, so I'm assuming that it needs a fairly fine sand to sift. Would this sand be okay, or should it be finer?
<Is fine... where I've seen this species in the wild, the substrate was about this size>
The current sand bed is 1.5 inches deep. I am moving my tank in about two weeks, out of the apartment that I live in, and into the house I am buying. It would be the perfect time to switch sands.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate it.
Joe
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>