Hector's Goby?...

[dougers31]

So I've been reading that these gobies are very good at sand sifting and eating nuisance algae. I'm guessing they may cover some corals in sand but otherwise they sound like a perfect maintenance fish. Any experiences and info would be great as I am thinking about getting one for my 40 br reef tank.

 

[Pappy]

Can't say I've had this one but have had a diamond goby and try make a huge mess and cover everything. Fun to watch but if you have anything on the sand plan on it being covered:(

 

[lpslover]

I had one in my 29 for a while. Very cool little fish. Never had an issue with the thing stirring up too much sand. Unlike my tiger pistol shrimp and yellow watchman. Boy can that pair move a lot of sand. But I digress.

Hector's Gobies do sand sift and pick at the rocks constantly, but they are not a one man clean up crew. They are small with small appetites. Maybe in something as small as a 10 gallon they'd be enough by themselves, but not in a 40. So do keep a clean up crew in addition, just maybe base it on 20 gallons, not 40.

Only other issue is that they are very shy. In a peaceful tank they flourish, in a tank with any bossy assertive types, they'll hide and starve. This was why I had to find a new home for mine. One of the newer acquisitions was badgering him.

 

[dougers31]

Thanks for the reply. I do plan on having a cleanup crew, and for the most part my tank will be non aggressive fish with a clownfish probably being the most assertive. I really haven't seen a fish with the description of an algae eater and a sandsifter, seemed like a win-win:) Just want to be sure its not going to crazy and bury everything...

 

[dougers31]

Ok, I've been reading that these fish tend to have short lifespans possibly due to starvation... any thoughts?

 

[lpslover]

They are nano gobies and most only live maybe 3 years. But the really short lived ones were probably harassed and hid rather than ate. I'd make sure you get a fat and happy one and put it in first, maybe with a couple green chromis or fire fish. Give it a good month to settle in and make sure it is taking prepared foods as well (nori & cyclopeeze were favorites of mine, though a friend swears by nutrimar ova for nano gobies). Mine had no issues eating, but I have heard of some not eating prepared foods.

Do be careful with the clowns, mine is an unholy terror and will be removed from the tank as soon as I can catch her. This same percula was the one that caused me to find the Hector's goby a new home, and she's doubled in size since then. She's bested a couple wrasses and a royal gramma. All of them at least 50% bigger than herself.

Great tank mates for other semi-aggressive or small aggressive fish, but not good peace keepers. At this point I can either keep her, or have multiple fish in the tank. Not both.