I've owned engineer gobies in the past. The first time, I got a group of about five smaller ones that were in the stage where they schooled and swam in the open water. They finally dwindled down to just two and then migrated into the sand. I caught them fighting pretty intensely a few times and then one of them disappeared, leaving only one. The remaining one lived for about five years and then was unfortunately killed with a tank crash.
The second time, in the same 100g tank, I again purchased a group of five. They migrated to the sand, and then soon it seemed that only three remained. They fought so badly that one of them had visible bite marks in his side at times, and then disappeared. The remaining one got to me about a foot long, and lived for 15 years until passing away just recently.
I'm wanting to try again, but deciding between buying another group, or just getting a single specimen and hoping for the best. Most internet sources and books I've seen say that they can be or are best kept in groups, but I am starting to have my doubts. Has anyone on here kept a pair (or more) alive for more than 5 years?
Thanks in advance for any insights.
The second time, in the same 100g tank, I again purchased a group of five. They migrated to the sand, and then soon it seemed that only three remained. They fought so badly that one of them had visible bite marks in his side at times, and then disappeared. The remaining one got to me about a foot long, and lived for 15 years until passing away just recently.
I'm wanting to try again, but deciding between buying another group, or just getting a single specimen and hoping for the best. Most internet sources and books I've seen say that they can be or are best kept in groups, but I am starting to have my doubts. Has anyone on here kept a pair (or more) alive for more than 5 years?
Thanks in advance for any insights.
