Diamond Goby Picking at Rock?

[justy_]

Hey Everyone,

My Diamond Watchman Goby seems to be sort of picking at my reef rock. Looks like he’s looking for food, but I’m not sure. He’s acting normal, sifting all my sand constantly and has eaten stray pellets that fall to the bottom, but he just started doing the rock thing a day or so ago. I guess I’m wondering if this behavior is normal or if he’s maybe just hungry and I need to spot feed him more? (Pic below). Thanks!

 

[CuzzA]

Sanding sifting gobies usually die of starvation. There's simply not enough sand fauna in the typical aquarium to sustain one.

 

[justy_]

Sanding sifting gobies usually die of starvation. There's simply not enough sand fauna in the typical aquarium to sustain one.

Noted. I’ll look into that more to see what I can do to help him out. I bought some mysis today so I’ll see how he does with that. Thanks!

 

[davidcalgary29]

They do eat an amazingly large amount of food for a relatively small fish. I feed mine a mix of commercial frozen foods, pellets, and a homebrew concotion that clumps together and which the other fish won't touch.

 

[DinoMagnet]

Picking at rocks is a sign of hunger. I spot feed mine pe mysis. And drop sinking pellets using a turkey baster directly on him.

 

[justy_]

Picking at rocks is a sign of hunger. I spot feed mine pe mysis. And drop sinking pellets using a turkey baster directly on him.

Ok, that’s what I kind of figured but wanted to check. He’s a little less skittish now, so I’m hoping the mysis/pellets/spot feeding will help. Thanks!

 

[justy_]

Update: I bought a bottle of pods, and the goby is LOVING them (as are my other fish), so all is well. Thanks for the help

 

[DinoMagnet]

Update: I bought a bottle of pods, and the goby is LOVING them (as are my other fish), so all is well. Thanks for the help

Good to hear

 

[MattyMatt]

Ok, that’s what I kind of figured but wanted to check. He’s a little less skittish now, so I’m hoping the mysis/pellets/spot feeding will help. Thanks!

My diamond seems to eat anything he can. I alternate between frozen brine shrimp cubes and frozen carnivore cubes of worms, mysis, and brine. And for whatever reason, he _loves_ algae wafers, just small enough to go in his mouth. I like seeing his little tummy full. He's not fat or anything like that; he's very active. But most that I see in other tanks seem like a tadpole, all head and a skinny body.