Fish ID??

[Sandroni]

Hello everybody, so in my high school we have an oceanography class for the juniors and seniors (I'm a sophomore). They have around 6 tanks, 5 fresh 1 salt. They are around 50 gal a piece. Long story short the saltwater tank needed a good scrubbing and I am more than happy to clean her tanks! Brown algae, green slime algae, red algae. It only has 2 fish a green clown goby and this thin eel looking fish that is black with white spots? The teacher said they are both gobies but I am so puzzled as to what the black little fish is? I will get a picture tomorrow I'm sure that would really help! Thanks
Angela

 

[GHsaltie]

Engineer goby! More than likely :D

 

[stevo01]

I bet its an engineer goby ;)

 

[Baby Ray]

It sounds like an engineer goby. The bigger they get, the more they look like eels

 

[stevo01]

Engineer goby! More than likely :D

JINX!

 

[Sandroni]

Oh btw I will be taking the fish home :) the seniors are lazy and it's too much work for them.

 

[GHsaltie]

Did it look similar to this? Their patterning can vary some.

 

[Sandroni]

JINX!

How big can these guys get? I am going to ask how long they have had them tomorrow :) Are they easy to care for?

 

[GHsaltie]

JINX!

I got it in first :p.

 

[Sandroni]

Did it look similar to this? Their patterning can vary some.

Yes, but with more completed round spots.

 

[stevo01]

I got it in first :p.

YUP!

 

[GHsaltie]

How big can these guys get? I am going to ask how long they have had them tomorrow :) Are they easy to care for?

Here's a good link you can check out. http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+165&pcatid=165
I find they are pretty easy to care for, however exceptions have to be made for their size and they can get enthusiastic about bulldozing/renovations. Need to make sure your rockwork is nice and secure.

 

[stevo01]

I doubt its a pipefish as their needs are pretty high. I'm sticking with the engineer.

 

[GHsaltie]

Yes, but with more completed round spots.

As juveniles they start with stripes, change to circle/spots over time and then into a kind of chain link pattern. This particular specimen is probably transitioning to adult coloring if it's getting more complete circles.

 

[Sandroni]

Here's a good link you can check out. http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+165&pcatid=165
I find they are pretty easy to care for, however exceptions have to be made for their size and they can get enthusiastic about bulldozing/renovations. Need to make sure your rockwork is nice and secure.

The only thing I am worried about is that my tank is a 14g and it's probably going to put grow my tank...

 

[GHsaltie]

Upgrade?
How big is the little bugger right now? If nothing else you might could just take him on until you find a more suitable home for him. Maybe contact some of your LFS?

 

[Sandroni]

Upgrade?
How big is the little bugger right now? If nothing else you might could just take him on until you find a more suitable home for him. Maybe contact some of your LFS?

That's a great idea actually! My Lfs is terrific and I think they would take him on after he grows out my tank! He's around 5-6 inches

 

[Baby Ray]

That's a great idea actually! My Lfs is terrific and I think they would take him on after he grows out my tank! He's around 5-6 inches

I don't know that much about engineer gobies but in my opinion, a 6 inch goby is too big for a 14 gallon tank. I would tank him strait to the LFS

 

[GHsaltie]

I don't know that much about engineer gobies but in my opinion, a 6 inch goby is too big for a 14 gallon tank. I would tank him strait to the LFS

At that size I would have to agree :(. Or at least take him within a couple weeks.

 

[Sandroni]

Both gobies are around 2 years of age. And yes it is totally an engineer goby :)