Acropora Care/Feeding – 04/23/08
Hello again Crew,
<<Greetings>>
Well, I've decided to not go with the clownfish-anemone-tank plan and rather create a peaceful community of Gobiodon citrinus with a pair of Stonogobiops nematodes
<<Both neat little fishes>>
and maybe another peaceful fish. Anyways, I have a few questions.
1. As you might know, I've been planning on culturing phytoplankton and copepods. My tank is 86g with a 35g sump. Starting out with, say, a 4" Acropora frag, how would I feed it phyto? Target feed? Dumping bottle of phyto into the tank?
<<Phytoplankton is of no direct benefit to the Acropora as they are decidedly carnivorous…though it can be beneficial in small doses to feed those organisms upon which the Acropora will feed. Better to feed the Acropora foods like Rotifers and Cyclops-Eeze (can simply be the “leftovers” from feeding the fishes), and install an inline plankton-generating refugium>>
2. How would I feed copepods to the prawn gobies? Target feed? Dump them in tank?
<<These can be simply “dumped in the tank” as you state>>
3. Would I ever have to feed the clown gobies?
<<Yes>>
4. Approximately how many coral heads should I have per goby? I'm thinking about having four pairs of gobies in my tank. I have around 125lbs of LR.
<<Mmm…will take several LARGE colonies. My experience with these fish and Acropora is not a good one. While these fish are found in association with Acros in the wild, the confines/limitations of captive systems do pose problems re. Maybe yours will be different, but in my experience these fish tend to nip and irritate the Acropora to the point they will not extend polyps and slowly decline in color/apparent health>>
Well, that's it for now. I sent an email titled "copepod culture" to you on Thursday and have yet to get a response. Just a reminder.
<<Hmm, this should have been returned by now…you may want to resend>>
Anyways, once again, I love your site. It's simply awesome.
<<Thank you…a collective effort>>
Thanks in Advance,
Random Aquarist
<<Happy to share. EricR>>

Electric blue goby, Gobiodon (?) comp.   2/2/08
Hi
I live in Australia and recently one of the aquariums I purchase fish from had some electric blue gobies. They are identical to the green coral goby except for their colouring which is a bright electric blue colour. I am curious as to whether you have had experience keeping them and what you know about their temperament/feeding habits/requirements.
<Mmm, don't see anything like this under Google pix and the name... Is this a member of the genus Gobiodon? Here on fishbase:
http://fishbase.org/NomenClature/ScientificNameSearchList.php?crit1_fieldname=SYNONYMS.SynGenus&crit1_fieldtype=CHAR&crit1_operator=EQUAL&crit1_value=
gobiodon&crit2_fieldname=SYNONYMS.SynSpecies&crit2_fieldtype=CHAR&crit2_operator=
contains&crit2_value=&group=summary&backstep=-2
All species have similar habitats, feeding... as far as I'm aware. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/gobiodon.htm
and the linked files above>
This is the first time I have seen this species for sale. Right now I have a 55 gallon tank with:
Pair Tomato Clowns
Copperband Butterfly
Yellow Tailed Damsel
Royal Dottyback
Banana Wrasse
Decorated Goby
Falco Hawkfish
<Mmm, this last in particular may cause trouble... the wrasse and Chelmon need more room...>
I have a quarantine tank and all the inhabitants have survived for over a year now, so I would consider my system stable. I also have a very healthy anemone which the clowns love and a few corals. I have had a yellow clown goby before but it disappeared after 2 days.
<Not uncommon... small... if/when die, dissolve readily>
The electric blue goby I saw in the aquarium were much bigger in size. Is it a good idea to purchase one for my aquarium or do you think it could possibly disappear again?
<Mmm, yes>
I am certain there are no mantis shrimps in my system and no other predators which could consume such a fish. Thanks.
A
<The Cirrhitid... BobF>

Crocea Clam and Yellow Clown Goby... Goby Hosting in a Clam   8/26/07
Hello WWM,
<Hi Jerry, Mich here.>
You guys are the best,
<Thank you for the kind words!>
I don't even bother asking the LFS my questions anymore.
<Know the feeling.>
I tried to find the answer on the website but with no luck.
<Didn’t find an answer, but I did find a query describing similar behavior. You can read more here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clamplcmtfaqs.htm
Tridacnid placement and attachment - 4/15/04 >
I have a Crocea Clam that has been with me for almost a year now. I Introduced a Citron Clown Goby to the tank and within the last 3 weeks, the Clown Goby has started to nestle down into the mouth of clam, then after a few minutes he viciously bites the clam and allows it to close around him. The Clown Goby then sits contented within the clam.
<I would absolutely love to see video of this. Any chance you can take any?>
He does this several times in a row and constantly throughout the day.
<This has to be absolutely adorable to observe.>
I looked for damage to the Crocea but there seems to be none.
<A good sign.>
Is this behavior normal?
<I’ve never heard of it before today, but that doesn’t mean too much. My fellow crew member Brenda just found this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/printthread.php?s=8b731f7485dc071e582beef3fc6dee0d&threadid=1139582
So it's doesn't seem like this behavior is all that rare. Typically these tiny fish hide out in Acropora and other "branchy" corals. Do you keep Acropora in this tank?>
More importantly will this bizarre relationship harm my Crocea?
<I don’t know if it’s harmfully to either for sure, If the clam is perpetually closed it would obviously interfere with the clams’ ability to take in nutrition. But I suspect this isn’t the case. Perhaps RMF will comment here.><<Not likely a problem. RMF>>
Thanks for all you help,
<Welcome! Would love to see this interaction. I do hope you might be able to send us a clip.>
Jerry
<Cheers,
Mich>

Re: Crocea Clam and Yellow Clown Goby... Goby Hosting in a Clam – 08/26/07
Dear WWM,
<Hi Jerry, Mich here again.>
Thanks for your quick response!!
<Welcome!>
I will do my best to send a video of the relationship.
<Wonderful. I very much look forward to seeing it!>
You would think that it would be a great thing to watch, but sometimes the bites seem so vicious that I find myself recoiling but alas no tears or pieces missing.
<Glad to hear, has to be quite compelling to watch.>
Thanks again guys for all your help and time, you guys rock!!
<Thank you for your kind words here Jerry, they are much appreciated!>
Jerry
<Cheers,
Mich>
p.s. I added Bob's comment that was posted on the Dailies page to the original response below.

Goby Compatibility, Gobiodon, Gobiosoma/Elacatinus   8/25/07
My 55 gal tank has been running for 4 months. Currently the tank contains LR, LS, and cleaning crew with snails and red legged hermits. I plan on keeping tank-raised seahorses, some macros, soft corals, and a couple mellow fish. How many neon gobies and/or clown gobies could I get? Will the two types live together peacefully?
<The two types should live together peacefully, but having more than one of each, could lead to fighting unless they are a mated pair. In your size tank, this may not happen, and this holds true for both gobies. The Citron Goby or Clown Goby may occasionally nip at corals, something to keep in mind.
James (Salty Dog)>

Yellow Clown Goby in 10 gallon   12/29/06
Hi,
     My yellow clown goby has been in his 10 gallon home for a week.  Bob, his white spots did go away and his skin has cleared up, but his tailfin is a bit frayed.  Should I be concerned?  
<Mmm, a bit too soon to tell... This could well be a "stage" in the cycling of an external parasite... look for its return in a few days time>
     To try and target feed him in the tank I started putting small bits of brine shrimp or Cyclop-eeze on the end of a bamboo skewer (used for shish kabobs) and swished it by where he's perched.
<You must have good vision and eye-hand coordination!>
  At first he'd dive under the rocks as soon as the stick hit the water and I think most of the food got pulled in by the filter so he wasn't eating much... but now he knows that food is attached to that stick he swims up to the skewer (blunt end definitely) and picks the shrimp off before I have a chance to shake it off in the water.  So, now I just hold the stick and he picks all the food off and then dives back to his artificial Acropora perch. I target feed him like that about 4 times daily, and a couple times I put very tiny bits of flake, just a few, on the surface and he swims up and eats that. He lost some weight during those first days when he hid from my feeding time so I am feeding him smaller bits more often at the moment.
<Good>
     I added the Talbot's damsel
<A great small damsel species, but in a ten gallon? Too little space.>
yesterday early evening and he was quickly gathered after less than a day in the tank and taken back to the LFS this afternoon after he kept 'charging' at the goby and chasing the goby when the goby left his perching spot for a short swim.
<Yes... territoriality in too small a territory...>
The goby hid for several hours after I had to remove all the large rocks to catch the damsel.  But he's back hopping/swimming from perch to rock all over the tank looking much more relaxed. I "might" consider putting one other fish in with him but in such a small system I'm pretty clueless and skeptical as to what would be a suitable tankmate that wouldn't get very big and be very easy going.  Would adding another yellow clown goby be a good or bad idea?
<Bad... Gobiodon are territorial as well>
A Neon goby? (The suggestion from staff person at LFS was one clown goby, one neon goby)
<Mmm, no... keep looking is my advice>
  I could be quite happy with the clown goby being the only fish in the tank (and by the looks of things I think he would be, too.)   The LFS staff person also suggested seahorses, but I think they might be very challenging to keep.
<Can be... though the ones cultured by reputable outfits... of species that are and stay small... are not hard... See Ocean Rider's listserv... subscribe (it's free) and browse a while...>
     I do plan to add some coral later. I'd like to do more research (especially regarding propagation to keep from overcrowding)  but at the time I'm thinking one small rock with a few Ricordea mushrooms, nano size rock of blue mushrooms, one or two types of zoanthid (nano size as well) and one small finger leather.  Other possible suggestions?
<This will be enough here>
Is that too much?  Oh sorry, lighting: 40 Watt 50/50 USA Current with moonlight.  
     I've seen some pretty red macroalgae in the LFS's tanks for sale.  Bad/Good idea to add into a tank?
<Read re... on WWM>
Does it depend on type?  If so, I'm sorry I didn't get the name of it.  Or is all macroalgae only meant for sumps and refugiums?    
     My immediate concern now is that the Tunze DOC nano skimmer I have in there seems to be emitting fine bubbles from the base of the unit.  They're really hard to see sometimes and it depends on the lighting. Also I have a Hagen Aqua Clear 70 (300) that is set up as a small refugium with some Chaeto, and it too seems to have bubbles forming (a bit larger though) as the water enters the tank.  Because of this I can see tiny bubbles just sitting on some areas of rock and on that artificial Acropora.  My concern is for the health of the goby because once the lights are out he moves from his artificial Acropora perch to laying on the rock which is directly under the outflow from the Aqua Clear.  With the main light off and only the light on the Aqua Clear for the Chaeto, the fine bubbles become much more visible and I can see them floating up and mixing with the outflow from the Aqua Clear.  Could he be 'breathing' in these bubbles?  Can it hurt him?  Will these bubbles cause problems for corals?
<Fine bubbles are to be avoided... I might take the Tunze unit apart, check for fit of the components>
    On another note: just curious... I noticed as the goby was laying on the rock a bristleworm stuck it's head out looking for some food.  Will its bristles irritate the goby if it comes in contact with the goby?  
Thank you again,
Debbie P.
<Not problematical if small... Read my friend. Bob Fenner>

Re: Red Sea Biotope art.   11/15/06
Hi Bob,
I have decided to go with Paracheilinus octotaenia as the wrasse for the system.
But I am absolutely racking my brains for tank mates for this fish;  I think it will get around 4inches or so, I can have 10 inches of fish for the system and would really like something else
Do you have any suggestions of fish that are strictly from the Red Sea and would get on with this fish, I was thinking about a pair of clown gobies,
<Mmm, not a pair/two... just one if any>
but have found conflicting info on the species living in the Red Sea.
Thanks
Keiran
<Does, will eat SPS coral polyps... BobF>