Diamondback goby vs pink spot

[jy808]

I'm doing a little research on a few goby that I think would suit my DT. Like most, I would love clean white coral bed!

Initially I wanted the diamondback goby, for it's peaceful temperament. I have had difficulty locating one where I am from, but have a LFS that is currently stocking the pink spot goby. Any difference between the diamondback versus the pink spot?

Doing a little bit of research on the pink spot and I am seeing more and more information of it eating, dragging or attacking hermit crabs. I do have 2 skunk shrimps in my DT, and they are darn costly where I am from. So if the pink spot is not compatible with other shrimps I will scrap this idea totally! How do the pink spot goby fair with other cleaner shrimps?

I was also looking at a yellow clown goby. How compatible are the yellow clown goby with either the diamondback or pink spot?

I have a 42g DT with plenty of rock.

 

[RBZ]

I would recommend the Diamond Watchman Goby if you are looking to have your sand sifted and cleaned. In my experience, they move around the tank and clean every inch.
You should be able to find them at your LFS but I noticed lately they have not been at mine.
Maybe it's a seasonal thing but they can be found online.

 

[Snuffy The Seal]

I'm doing a little research on a few goby that I think would suit my DT. Like most, I would love clean white coral bed!

Initially I wanted the diamondback goby, for it's peaceful temperament. I have had difficulty locating one where I am from, but have a LFS that is currently stocking the pink spot goby. Any difference between the diamondback versus the pink spot?

Doing a little bit of research on the pink spot and I am seeing more and more information of it eating, dragging or attacking hermit crabs. I do have 2 skunk shrimps in my DT, and they are darn costly where I am from. So if the pink spot is not compatible with other shrimps I will scrap this idea totally! How do the pink spot goby fair with other cleaner shrimps?

I was also looking at a yellow clown goby. How compatible are the yellow clown goby with either the diamondback or pink spot?

I have a 42g DT with plenty of rock.

Diamond gobies have been known to starve when not presented a large enough tank, the amount they sift is crazy and pretty much all food is sourced from the sand bed. Have you though about nassarius snails or conches? they would work well and would do well in a tank that size.

 

[nereefpat]

Pink spot is the one I would recommend. Diamond gobies are sand sifters that most starve or jump out.

Pink spot watchman are shrimp safe. I've kept them with skunk and fire cleaner shrimp. They also are true watchman gobies, so they pair with pistol shrimp.

 

[jy808]

Pink spot is the one I would recommend. Diamond gobies are sand sifters that most starve or jump out.

Pink spot watchman are shrimp safe. I've kept them with skunk and fire cleaner shrimp. They also are true watchman gobies, so they pair with pistol shrimp.

Do they sift sand like the diamondback?

 

[nereefpat]

Do they sift sand like the diamondback?

They will here and there, in some spots. But they aren't sand sifting gobies like diamond gobies. They are watchman. Different group.

 

[ReefHog]

I have a Diamond Goby in my 220 mixed reef. It's more of a lagoon type rock scape so there is a lot of exposed sand. The Diamond Goby keeps every square inch clean. He absolutely does move all over the whole tank. I'm not sure why so many people say they will starve if the sand bed gets depleted. I have not found this to be the case. I have had two and both of them ate every prepared food I feed, including pellets. My current one I've had since June and actually swims half way up the water column to eat food. My first one I had for a few years until a velvet outbreak in which I lost most of the fish. I have a friend who has one that eats pellets as well. I really like that they don't seem to pick up and drop sand on corals like some gobies. They just scoop up sand and drop it where they are and then move on.

 

[nereefpat]

I have a Diamond Goby in my 220 mixed reef. It's more of a lagoon type rock scape so there is a lot of exposed sand. The Diamond Goby keeps every square inch clean. He absolutely does move all over the whole tank. I'm not sure why so many people say they will starve if the sand bed gets depleted. I have not found this to be the case. I have had two and both of them ate every prepared food I feed, including pellets.

My answer to that would be that most of us don't have 220 gallon tanks. Also, many diamond gobies don't accept prepared food.

 

[ReefHog]

My answer to that would be that most of us don't have 220 gallon tanks. Also, many diamond gobies don't accept prepared food.

Fair enough. I will certainly concede that in a 40 gal, the goby would definitely need to be eating prepared food to survive. If mine wasn't eating prepared food, I doubt it would survive even in the 220. It's just that the ones I run across always seem to be eating. I don't buy fish on-line as I prefer to see them eat or at least be interested in prepared food before I buy. I am definitely lucky to live in Chicago where there are no shortages of good LFS'. My first one did great in a 90 gallon for several years before moving to the 220. If you find one that is eating prepared food, I believe he would do just fine in a 40.

 

[ReefRondo]

My pink didn’t sift sand at all. Diamond all the way!

 

[Eva Rose]

My Pink Spot did not even make her own burrow for years. She stole my jawfish’s burrow. Later they coexisted very well in the tank & the Pink Spot finally stuck to her own spot. So definitely if you want one for a clean sand bed go with a Diamond, Sleeper Gold Head Goby (Valenciennea strigata) or Bella Goby (Valenciennea Bella). Look at videos. Sand shifters can dump sand on corals.

 

[jy808]

So after further research I can see that the diamondback will be sifting ALOT of sand, which some hobbyists may find to bothersome.

Then there is the debate regarding the nutrients of the sand bed and how it benefits the tank and tanks cycling ability.

Although the sandbad is dirty I can live with it if the sandbed benefits the system. What is everyones opinion regarding this.

 

[Flame2hawk]

I have a pair of orange diamond watchman gobies in a 625g and they sift the sand bed constantly. They also eat mysis, brime and pellets if I can get it to them before the tangs and angels eat it all. they are a very entertaining pair and many visitors really take to them when observing the tank...which is funny because they are the least expensive fish in the tank! Great antics and behavior for sure...really glad I have them!

 

[Lex_510]

So what sand shifter you end up going with, I have a pink that only stays around his cave, so I’m looking for one that won’t throw sand on rock n corals

 

[i cant think]

So what sand shifter you end up going with, I have a pink that only stays around his cave, so I’m looking for one that won’t throw sand on rock n corals

The reason they stay near their burrows is they aren’t sandsifting gobies.

Nothing in these genera are sandsifters and instead stay close to the sand:
Stonogobiops
Callogobius
Cryptocentrus
Amblyeleotris
Vanderhostia
Tryssogobius
Eviota
Discordipinna

These genera however are true sandsifters:
Koumansetta
Valenciennea
Amblygobius
Sgnigobius

Obviously these aren’t every genus in the subfamily gobiinae however these are the most commonly seen of that family.

 

[NickHolmes]

Diamond gobies have been known to starve when not presented a large enough tank, the amount they sift is crazy and pretty much all food is sourced from the sand bed. Have you though about nassarius snails or conches? they would work well and would do well in a tank that size.

Mine did a fantastic job keeping the sand bed clean and happily competed with the other fish during feeding time.