Diamond Goby Questions!!!

[NamKlim]

Howdy!
This is my first post so hopefully I am in the right area...
I recently purchased a mated pair of Diamond Gobies. They are absolutely incredible to watch and from what I am told they are hard to get as a pair...
Now I had them for about 2 weeks... and as of last night one of them made the ultimate jump and was found the next morning...

So I am down to one... Now my questions are...

A) I have been told they mate for life so I am screwed when it comes to making another pair using the existing goby. Correct or Incorrect?

B) I read another thread that someone stated they can die of loneliness... Is this true? The remaining Goby is acting quite "normal" or the same I should say as to when I had both.

C) If 'A' is Incorrect, I read I can simply get another Diamond Goby that is smaller then the existing one and dominance would be established easily and they will become a pair.

These questions I have looked up and googled multiple times but every time the thread gets to the answer it ends. There are no further responses or posts. Could someone finally clarify if they have any experience with any of this and what recommendations they have?

I would love to have another pair, the one that jumped out was the more active sifter and the smaller of the two. So fun to watch their interactions, always swimming where the other one is and laying with there heads on top of each other.

Thank you!

 

[Captain Quint]

Sorry to read of this.

The short answer is a Diamond Goby is a protogynous fish and can change gender when needed. To make a pairing more likely you were correct in writing and asking about buying a much smaller than your remaining goby so, with a purchase a second, do buy a much smaller goby than the one in your system. Given the large size difference, dominance hopefully will be smooth and reasonably easier to help foster a mated pair again.

If you have two similar sized gobies it is highly unlikely they will pair and there could be a terrible battle to the death. The goby left will be fine without another being added though.

May I ask if you have a cover for your tank? If so it would be a good idea as all fishes can be jumpers. I hope this helped.

EDIT: Forgot to welcome you. There are great members here always ready to help you.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R @NamKlim !!! That happens to me also. I got two of the Diamond Goby and I found one on the floor the next day. Of course I didn't have a cover but has been over 8 month since that lost and the other is just find keeping my sand clean.

 

[NamKlim]

Sorry to read of this.

The short answer is a Diamond Goby is a protogynous fish and can change gender when needed. To make a pairing more likely you were correct in writing and asking about buying a much smaller than your remaining goby so, with a purchase a second, do buy a much smaller goby than the one in your system. Given the large size difference, dominance hopefully will be smooth and reasonably easier to help foster a mated pair again.

If you have two similar sized gobies it is highly unlikely they will pair and there could be a terrible battle to the death. The goby left will be fine without another being added though.

May I ask if you have a cover for your tank? If so it would be a good idea as all fishes can be jumpers. I hope this helped.

EDIT: Forgot to welcome you. There are great members here always ready to help you.

Thank you for the reply!
This is awesome info. I did not have a top prior but as of this morning I am making my own. I have a Red Sea Max E-170 and they make a cover for it, but from what I read it makes the lighting all checkered. So a DIY is where I'm at.

Thank you again! I'll be ordering a small diamond goby to hopefully pair with the remaining one. I will update this thread when and if it works out!

 

[NamKlim]

!!! Welcome to R2R @NamKlim !!! That happens to me also. I got two of the Diamond Goby and I found one on the floor the next day. Of course I didn't have a cover but has been over 8 month since that lost and the other is just find keeping my sand clean.

I'm glad the other is doing well! Sorry for your loss! I will be trying to make another pair soon. Definitely getting a lid for when I am not glued to the tank haha.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I'm glad the other is doing well! Sorry for your loss! I will be trying to make another pair soon. Definitely getting a lid for when I am not glued to the tank haha.

LOL Thanks. The funny part is that I didn't put the cover back on and no other fish jump out...yet. I have two covers but I like the clear view from the top down and also didn't interfere with the light.

 

[Captain Quint]

!!! Welcome to R2R @NamKlim !!! That happens to me also. I got two of the Diamond Goby and I found one on the floor the next day. Of course I didn't have a cover but has been over 8 month since that lost and the other is just find keeping my sand clean.

Sorry about that spyder813.

I think many of us have had carpet surfers at some point in our hobby.