Pics incoming!
But beforehand, I was thinking about going into the fish discussion threads and starting something up to talk about these gobies. Like i said before, when looking them up i found little info on them. I'm hoping that with pictures and info they could become a more well known fish.
Here's the Seaweed Blenny
Second shot of it
Goby time
From what I've learned about these guys by watching them, it seems that having 4 of them is beneficial. They seem to enjoy a small community and have established a pecking order with a leader. At least I think so.... I've watched all 4 closely and the largest one, whether it be by age/size/or position in the hierarchy has developed a slight coloration on its pectoral fin. I can't get a picture on it, but it's sort of like a black band running parallel to the body of the fish. Haven't seen the other 3 with that mark. Also that fish shows a bit of aggression when it comes to the others with slight chasing. It's a behaviour that I've seen before in Greenbanded gobies (those species actually change sex when 2 are held together, the male would chase the female and sometimes 'dance' to coerce her to follow him to his lair. From there they bred). It looks like these gobies could be a close relative and also change sex (that can also be correct since ORAFARM has them listed under the same genus Tigrigobius, also confirming that can be bred at home).
They have taken to pellets already and frozen mysis. I'll be purchasing live brine soon.
They also have enjoyed the rubble area as I hope and each fish looks to have gained weight since adding them to the tank (fat tummys= happy fish!)
Here is the second largest.
The largest is here, pectoral fin is down, couldnt get a pic of the band.
The mystery fish (aka the saddled blenny) was missing most of Sunday until I saw him on the other side of the tank hidden in some rock.
My porcelain crabs have been trying to catch fish.... I think my tank is low on phytoplankton, they must be really hungry.
Update:
The diatoms are in bloom! Here's my guess on what happened.
When adding the fish to the tank and a few snails, I added two Chestnut Astrea (Turbo). As soon as they hit the sand two hermits came upon them and took them down under the rocks. Unfortunately I couldn't get to them and all I could do is see crabs coming from across the way to scavenge. The next day, the water was a bit cloudy and the top of the tank was a big gross (snail nutrients all over the place). Day 3, browning on everything and so far the right glass and a big portion of macro now has diatoms.
Other than losing two poor snails, I'm a bit excited. Pods will love the diatoms and hopefully more reproduction is in order.
Fish:
All four goby are confirmed, but I only see three at a time. One of the small ones seems to be hiding out. Which makes me happy. One reason it could be hiding is to find a place to call home. My past greenbanded had a goby that placed itself in a very nice rock. After weeks it could be seen coming in and out of that very rock. Months later, when taking down the tank and selling the fish, i pulled the rock and dozens of fry came swimming out. I hope to recreate this! That behavior seems to be a pattern.
The largest goby whom i dub the alpha male approached a smaller goby. He then wiggled his body back and forth for a bit and dashed back to this cave. He turned around and went back to the smaller goby and continued doing it 3 - 4 times. That is the exact same behavior as my greenbanded goby in the weeks before they laid and hatched eggs.
From above and below two of the fish are rounded. It I see dots in the belly of one. The alpha is now trying really hard to get some attention from a rounded goby.
Mystery fish is... now a missing fish. It seems to hide more than the 4th goby.
