Yellow-watchman Goby Behavior

[ashtoreth]

We got a yellowwatchman goby as the second fish in our tank (first fish was a firefish) and he originally took up residence in a hole facing the front of the tank and would mostly just sit in the hole for the whole day and eat some pellets if they floated by / yawn at the firefish if it got too close. Since the firefish started coming out more, the YWG has taken to hiding in the hole (which we are convinced is connected underground to the back cavern the firefish lives in). For the last three weeks, he would show his face every few days very briefly at ~11am. We don't see any footage of him eating but assume he may be scavenging in the back (where the cave mouth is quite large).

Do people think getting a pistol shrimp would encourage him to come out and "guard" the hole more often? Or is the goby just digging his own tunnels given lack of shrimp and will eventually come back to guard once he's done digging? If shrimps do help, which specific type is best suited? Tiger pistol shrimp?

We're also pretty certain the firefish and goby have gotten in tussles over the cave (the firefish got a split tail fin the day he got spooked and dove into the goby's hole to escape) but so far both are alive and no one looks too much worse for the wear. However, the firefish is out in the open a lot (which is surprising based on my past experiences with them), so not sure if we lucked out on a more daring firefish or if there's risk it's getting bullied out of the cave?

Would getting a shrimp potentially hurt the firefish (who still uses the cave at night and whenever spooked)? Or could we encourage the YWG to rehome if we got a shrimp that started digging holes elsewhere? (For reference, the underground cavern is probably about the size of two medium-sized hands and a fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp have also started taking turns hiding in it along with the firefish and YWG.)

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It sort of sounds like there is not enough rockwork for them both to have their own little space. It's not acting normally as its likely being bullied, so getting a pistol shrimp won't stop it from getting bullied, and doesn't necessarily mean the watchman and shrimp will pair up. Maybe try adding a few more rocks so each fish can be happy? They are both gobies and gobies like rockwork to hide in

 

[ScottJ]

I sometimes don't see my YWG for days on end. I thought he had passed after being MIA for w couple weeks once. As long as you have plenty of hiding spots, not just one cave, but lots of them, your firefish and YWG should be ok together. I doubt they share the same hole, though.

As far as a shrimp, I added one after my goby was established. I haven't seen the shrimp since I put him in. but I do hear what I assume is him sometimes at lights out. I have no idea if the fish and shrimp found each other or not.

 

[JayM]

I've always seen my YWG everyday, but before I got my tiger pistol shrimp, he swam around looking like he was stressed out. Now he just acts like a YWG. Guarding the lair and coming out for the occasional lap around the tank.

And FWIW, both my firefish spend all of their time out and about when the lights are on. Lights out and they head of to their little nook until morning..

 

[ashtoreth]

It sort of sounds like there is not enough rockwork for them both to have their own little space. It's not acting normally as its likely being bullied, so getting a pistol shrimp won't stop it from getting bullied, and doesn't necessarily mean the watchman and shrimp will pair up. Maybe try adding a few more rocks so each fish can be happy? They are both gobies and gobies like rockwork to hide in

Below is our aquascape. It's a 40gal L (3 ft in length). I'm pretty sure there are caves in the right section of rockworks as well (the firefish initially hid in a hole there until he found his forever home), but there is a huge cavern on the bottom of the central rock, which is bigger than the bottom showing above the sand (large opening towards the back of the tank and a small hole towards the front slope). We weren't sure the tank would need that much more rock but is the problem I need to get different rock shapes to create more caves?

There is also only three fish total (and the midas blenny was only added a day or two ago and has not been aggressing on the goby / occupies a completely different layer of the tank) so I hadn't thought the goby could be getting bullied (unless the firefish was doing so in the cave)?

 

[ScottJ]

Below is our aquascape. It's a 40gal L (3 ft in length). I'm pretty sure there are caves in the right section of rockworks as well (the firefish initially hid in a hole there until he found his forever home), but there is a huge cavern on the bottom of the central rock, which is bigger than the bottom showing above the sand (large opening towards the back of the tank and a small hole towards the front slope). We weren't sure the tank would need that much more rock but is the problem I need to get different rock shapes to create more caves?

There is also only three fish total (and the midas blenny was only added a day or two ago and has not been aggressing on the goby / occupies a completely different layer of the tank) so I hadn't thought the goby could be getting bullied (unless the firefish was doing so in the cave)?

Personally, I would have a lot more rock than that. Gobies need rock to not only have bolt holes but to explore and pick at. Plus, if you are going to have coral, you could use more rock for mounting coral on.

 

[ScottJ]

FWIW, this is my 55 gallon, 48"x 13" footprint, so not a lot of depth to work with. Not sure how many pounds, but probably close to 60. Lots of hiding spots. I have heard that a fish should be able to swim from one end of the tank to the other without being seen. I think Paul B wrote that someplace.

 

[ashtoreth]

FWIW, this is my 55 gallon, 48"x 13" footprint, so not a lot of depth to work with. Not sure how many pounds, but probably close to 60. Lots of hiding spots. I have heard that a fish should be able to swim from one end of the tank to the other without being seen. I think Paul B wrote that someplace.

Got it, that's really helpful. I'll look into getting some more rocks for more hiding holes. Given I already have sand in, I assume it wouldn't be good to add really large pieces that might topple / crush fish if they shifted from wherever they were put in the sand? Would some smaller pieces that create more individual caves / hiding holes still be sufficient for now? Or should I do something more major like dig up the sand and completely rescape?

 

[ScottJ]

Got it, that's really helpful. I'll look into getting some more rocks for more hiding holes. Given I already have sand in, I assume it wouldn't be good to add really large pieces that might topple / crush fish if they shifted from wherever they were put in the sand? Would some smaller pieces that create more individual caves / hiding holes still be sufficient for now? Or should I do something more major like dig up the sand and completely rescape?

Just push-wiggle the rock into the sand till it hits bottom. Just has to be stable is all :smiling-face-with-sunglasses:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Got it, that's really helpful. I'll look into getting some more rocks for more hiding holes. Given I already have sand in, I assume it wouldn't be good to add really large pieces that might topple / crush fish if they shifted from wherever they were put in the sand? Would some smaller pieces that create more individual caves / hiding holes still be sufficient for now? Or should I do something more major like dig up the sand and completely rescape?

You will be fine adding large new pieces! Just make sure your rock is secured before adding them! The above poster did exactly what I have done in the past when adding rock to my tank, haha.