Question regarding Engineer Gobies

THillPSU · May 22, 2019

Hi. I have a 140 DT. Around 6 months old. Right now FOWLR but have always planned to add corals. Current fish population - 2 clowns, fox face, engineer goby, 6 pajama cardinals. Various snails and a couple of scarlet crabs.

A month or so ago, I bought two juvenile engineer gobies and a fox face. Ran them through the QT process including copper treatment. After being in the DT about a week, one of the gobies died. The other is doing fine, living under the rocks (which are on the bottom of the tank with about 3-4" of sand). My question is I bought two because many sites stated they are social and do well in a pair if added together.

Is it too late to add another or should I just stick with the one.

Big G · May 22, 2019

eatbreakfast · May 23, 2019

They do fine singly, you don't need another one. Once they settle under the rocks and start burrowing they are less accepting of new conspecifics.

THillPSU · May 23, 2019

eatbreakfast said:
They do fine singly, you don't need another one. Once they settle under the rocks and start burrowing they are less accepting of new conspecifics.

Thanks for the reply. I will let him have the tank to himself!

OrionN · May 23, 2019

In the unlikely case that you or other people who read this thread don't know, you need your rock firmly on the bottom of the tank. They move things a round a lot (engineering) and may cause change in the structure of your rock once the sand get erode away.
They get relatively large (LA said 1 foot) but your tank is big enough for him.

THillPSU · May 23, 2019

OrionN said:
In the unlikely case that you or other people who read this thread don't know, you need your rock firmly on the bottom of the tank. They move things a round a lot (engineering) and may cause change in the structure of your rock once the sand get erode away.
They get relatively large (LA said 1 foot) but your tank is big enough for him.

Thanks! My rock is on the bottom so I'm hoping I'm okay. As I develop my tank (add coral eventually) I plan on going "light" on the number of fish so I think he will be will be content.