Beautiful goby
- Thread starter BenjaminS
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Reef Fever
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never had one but congrats! love those little blue banded gobies
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Love them but as you know a cooler tank is key.
Reef Fever
Valuable Member
Lythrypnus dalli- blue banded goby aka Catalina goby..i know lol
altolamprologus
Community Member
Catalina gobies can survive reef temps for about 6 months before they succumb to the heat and oxygen deprivation and die. They are best kept around 55-65 degrees and it's extremely irresponsible and downright cruel to keep them in tropical tanks. Please do the right thing and find a better home for him before you kill him. And next time, do your research before you buy a fish you know nothing about.
BenjaminS
Active Member
I've seen one live for quite a while awhile and based on a fellow reefers words words it was over six months. So it was based on trust of a fellow reefers' words that I decided to get one. I wanted to see myself if I could keep one. It looks rather happy in my tank. I'll let you know when it gets past six months.
JonnyJ
Active Member
I'm not mad that you bought it, I'm more upset that you are trying to rationalize keeping it. Im not trying to be a tree hugger but you should send it back or re-home it. Whether you realize it or not your thread will encourage others both to refrain from getting it and at the same time it will promote them to try. It's not assumed that they need cold water it's proven. Read up and understand why it's not meant for a general reef. Their are so many options for a reef and not sure why people try. 6 months isn't an accomplishment and neither is 6 months 1 day.
EcoFrags
Active Member
i' know someone who has had one in a 29 gallon tank for a little over a year but started the tank at 60 degreese and has slowly been raising the temperature each month using an APEX controller...my 2 cents in the debate over catalina gobies and if keeping them is responsible/possible...but as to the chastising over his/her decision its a reef keeping forum for advice guys not a place to get upset at other people decisions be nice and respectful its why we all love R2R =)
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altolamprologus
Community Member
Sorry if I sounded harsh, I'm just a little more concerned over the life of a fish than some random guy's feelings. It's simple biology. Catalina gobies have adapted over millennia to live in the cool, oxygen rich waters of the temperate pacific. No amount of slow acclimation can change the fact that the increased metabolic rate caused by higher temperatures along with the relatively oxygen depleted environment of a reef wreaks havoc on the fish's body, shortening his life span 50% or more. Catalinas kept at reef temps are sluggish and often listless, then perk right up and do so much better when put in a temperate tank. That's not just a coincidence. Maybe you guys are different, but I've always believed in shooting for the ideal environment, not one where the fish does ok for a while then dies.
buddythelion
2500 Club Member
I don't have a problem with you keeping it. But at least try to keep it. Why don't you just buy a cold water set up from Micro Reefs, at least it will show that you're taking responsibility and trying your best to keep them.
No one said they were impossible to keep, just not meant to live in warm waters. I'm sure you could keep a lot of things in a short time span, but not in a comfortable environment, which as owners we're responsible for.
No one said they were impossible to keep, just not meant to live in warm waters. I'm sure you could keep a lot of things in a short time span, but not in a comfortable environment, which as owners we're responsible for.
BenjaminS
Active Member
I wonder if I need to put a heater/chiller in the tank if I am like 1 hour away from catalina? Do you think it's possible just to keep kinda like a goldfish bowl with salt water and do daily water changes w liverock and bubbler?
altolamprologus
Community Member
No. Socal gets way too hot. Ever go to the beach on a hot day? The water is usually 40 degrees colder than the air. Room temp isn't much cooler than the temperature of a reef so you would still need a chiller.
Soehl
Active Member
Great idea!! Cataling Goby WILL die in a warm system. I love the idea of creating a colder water tank. PLUS that would make a great build thread. Don't see many of them around!!
