Is getting a sand sifting goby such as a sleeper head or bella goby a mistake?

[squidsreef]

I have a fairly new tank of about 3 months, and i want to add a large goby to it. I do have some copepods in the tank, but I'm sure not as many as a established tank of a year +. Is it a mistake to get one of these small sand sifting gobies? I have heard they eat frozen and pellets in addition to the sand sifting.

 

[Billdogg]

They can be great fish - if you don't have corals on the sandbed. I prefer a YWG over a sleeper any day.

JM.02

 

[Eleni18]

I have a yellow watchman and a diamond goby. The yellow does not sift sand but is a lovely fish with great presonality, paired with a pistol shrimp. The diamond goby does a great job keeping the sand clean

 

[squidsreef]

I have a yellow watchman and a diamond goby. The yellow does not sift sand but is a lovely fish with great presonality, paired with a pistol shrimp. The diamond goby does a great job keeping the sand clean

Thanks! I will wait a few months to let the microfauna in my sandbed grow before looking more into purchasing a sand-sifting goby, as I don't want them to starve!

 

[kartrsu]

I have a diamond goby and he keeps the sand bed immaculate. He does make piles of sand so I tend not to keep corals on the sand bed. I have very little microfauna in the sand too. But sand is sparkling white.

 

[squidsreef]

I have a diamond goby and he keeps the sand bed immaculate. He does make piles of sand so I tend not to keep corals on the sand bed. I have very little microfauna in the sand too. But sand is sparkling white.

How long have you had him?

 

[kartrsu]

About 2 months.

 

[squidsreef]

About 2 months.

Is he hard to feed? I'm very scared of starving one.

 

[kartrsu]

Is he hard to feed? I'm very scared of starving one.

Not at all. He’s bold enough to go for food that floats near him. I feed with frozen and fish pellets. He gets enough from the scraps that fall to the bottom.

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks! I will wait a few months to let the microfauna in my sandbed grow before looking more into purchasing a sand-sifting goby, as I don't want them to starve!

That’s smart.
The DBG can clear an immature sand bed quickly and usual die in a few months.