Catalina goby questions

[LordJoshaeus]

Hi everyone! I am interested in keeping a pair or small group of these gobies (Lythrypnus dalli) in a 10 gallon cool water tank. I have some questions about them;

1 - Could I even keep a pair or small group of catalina gobies in a tank this size? I REALLY want to spawn them (apparently not an unreasonable task; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/are.12648 - the larval stage does not appear to be outrageously long)
2 - Fishbase gives a temperature range of about 18-22 celsius (or 64-72 degrees fahrenheit) for this species in the wild. Is that also the ideal range for aquarium keeping, or should they be kept cooler? (I was going to insulate the tank and use fans to promote evaporative cooling...one fan pointing in, one pointing out)
3 - Are there any commonly available macroalgae that would do well at that temperature range?
4 - Could I use escargot shells as decor in this tank?
5 - Can I use an air lift pump (or perhaps several air lift pumps) instead of a mechanical pump? I was thinking this would help keep the temperature down (inasmuch as mechanical filters produce heat).

Thanks

 

[725196]

I have kept these over the years in 4 different tanks. I absolutely love these fish but you need to know they are from colder water and don’t do well in the reef tank. Sometimes they will make it if you take great care with them but all to often they die. I have had more failures than success with them and I am a goby lover and kept all kinds over the years.

 

[ThRoewer]

1 - 10 gallon may be on the small side. I would go with a 20 gallon, ideally acrylic tank due to the better insulation properties of acrylic.

2 - I would think that temperature range is about right for the summer, though in the winter it might get cooler - at least that was my feeling when I put my feet into the Pacific in San Diego during the winter months. In the winter I would definitely keep them at the lower end of the temperature range.
Evaporation cooling may not cut it during the summer. I would go with a small chiller, especially if it gets hot in the summer where you are.

3 - Caulerpa taxifolia or Caulerpa prolifera do quite well in cooler water (which is why it is illegal to have them here in California). Ulva should also do well.

4 - you definitely could but if you want to breed them I would stick with PVC tube ends for easier access to the eggs and larvae.

5 - Airlift should work. You can also try if you can find a suitable tank that doesn't have a submersed and water-cooled motor like the old Tunze pumps or the new EcoTech Marine Voretech pumps.

 

[saltcats]

https://gulfofme.com/ sells coldwater macroalgaes and other things ! I haven't ever ordered from them so can't vouch for them personally but their stuff looks nice!

 

[LordJoshaeus]

1 - 10 gallon may be on the small side. I would go with a 20 gallon, ideally acrylic tank due to the better insulation properties of acrylic.

2 - I would think that temperature range is about right for the summer, though in the winter it might get cooler - at least that was my feeling when I put my feet into the Pacific in San Diego during the winter months. In the winter I would definitely keep them at the lower end of the temperature range.
Evaporation cooling may not cut it during the summer. I would go with a small chiller, especially if it gets hot in the summer where you are.

3 - Caulerpa taxifolia or Caulerpa prolifera do quite well in cooler water (which is why it is illegal to have them here in California). Ulva should also do well.

4 - you definitely could but if you want to breed them I would stick with PVC tube ends for easier access to the eggs and larvae.

5 - Airlift should work. You can also try if you can find a suitable tank that doesn't have a submersed and water-cooled motor like the old Tunze pumps or the new EcoTech Marine Voretech pumps.

1 - Bummer Are they too aggressive for the 10 gallon, even if given lots of cover (macroalgae, caves, etc)?

2 - OK. I found a straightforward design for a mini fridge chiller; Would something like that work for chilling the tank? I was thinking of placing the tubing in a container of water in the fridge and perhaps hooking the fridge up to an inkbird to give me more control of the tank's ultimate temperature. Also, would altering the photoperiod over the course of the year be helpful?

3 - I'd rather avoid the infamous Taxifolia, but the other options are definitely viable. Wonder if any readily available red algae would handle the lower temps, especially since they tend to come from deeper (IE cooler) waters?

4 - Will do. Just take a short PVC pipe, cap the ends, and drill a small hole in one of the caps?

5 - I will look into those as well.

https://gulfofme.com/ sells coldwater macroalgaes and other things ! I haven't ever ordered from them so can't vouch for them personally but their stuff looks nice!

Cool! I will give them a look.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These guys are peaceful but not towards each other
They also require plenty of hiding spots and cooler tank temperature of 71-76 which is not favorable for many tank mates