Feeding a watchman goby

[Barry_Cuda]

I picked up a watchman at the LFS yesterday and have it in quarantine. I went to feed it today and I'm realizing I'm not sure how best to do so. I'm used to feeding fish that hover in the water column or swim around the tank... those seem to do just fine with adding some mysis or frozen clam to the water column and letting them grab it. The watchman is spending most of its time hiding near the bottom, and even if it's not hiding, it's a bottom-dweller and doesn't spend its time high up in the tank. What's the best way to get food to it? Take a turkey baster and target food delivery to its hiding places?

 

[NorCal Reefer]

When I first got mine it hid for almost a week. After that it became a very aggressive eater and swims with my other fish for food near the top during feeding time.

 

[Big G]

Cool! Watchman Gobies are so unique. I feed all of my fish a fish "smoothie" consisting of several varieties of frozen fish cubes: chopped clams, mysis, brine, seaweed, cyclops, coral mix, etc. Put one of each in a tupperware container in the fridge. Allow to "slump" and then pour off the excess liquid. Add some vitamins like Selcon, Zoecon. This mix will stay fresh in the fridge for a few days. My Pink WG just loves the stuff along with the other fish. Just let it drop to the bottom of the tank. They aren't the fastest reacting fish. So letting the food drift down works just fine for the goby to see it and react. Sometimes it even gets into the action when I place a frozen half clam on the bottom for the other fish.

 

[Big G]

When I first got mine it hid for almost a week. After that it became a very aggressive eater and swims with my other fish for food near the top during feeding time.

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Barry_Cuda]

Thanks, Big G I've actually been here a while... just haven't posted much lately. I'm so glad I found this forum. It's by far the friendliest and most civil reef forum I've visited, and I really like the user community y'all have built. I hope someday I'll have enough knowledge that I can pay forward all the great advice and assistance I've received here so far.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Agree with everyone above. It will get acclimated and become a pig. And yes, you can help it out by using a long dropper to target feed mysis near where it's hiding out.

If you plan to pair it with a pistol, now is a good time to introduce them to one another as long as you are not QT'ing with medication that will harm invertebrates. Get a shallow tupperware container and fill with a little substrate and maybe a small rock on top. They'll bond while they sit in QT and help them stay together when introduced to the DT. At least that's the theory; they'll most likely find each other regardless if the tank's not too large.

 

[Big G]

You are welcome. So start posting some pics of your new fish. That's how we suck you in to the collective LOL

 

[Barry_Cuda]

If only I could *get* a good pic. All I have is my camera phone and the QT isn't in the best-lit part of the house. Plus the new guy is hiding out pretty much 24x7 at the moment. Maybe once he gets settled in he'll come out and play nice for the camera.

 

[Barry_Cuda]

If you plan to pair it with a pistol, now is a good time to introduce them to one another as long as you are not QT'ing with medication that will harm invertebrates. Get a shallow tupperware container and fill with a little substrate and maybe a small rock on top. They'll bond while they sit in QT and help them stay together when introduced to the DT. At least that's the theory; they'll most likely find each other regardless if the tank's not too large.

I actually have a hitchhiker pistol that I've never seen. I can hear it at night, and I've found a couple of molts, but it's never come out where I can see it. I'm hoping the watchman doesn't just pair up with it and also disappear never to be seen again once it's in the display tank

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I actually have a hitchhiker pistol that I've never seen. I can hear it at night, and I've found a couple of molts, but it's never come out where I can see it. I'm hoping the watchman doesn't just pair up with it and also disappear never to be seen again once it's in the display tank

Depends on the type of pistol that hitchhiked. The caribbean snapping shrimp species won't pair with gobies. Don't worry too much about the hitchhiking pistol harming the goby or ravaging your livestock - I have at least two in my tank from Florida Gulf liverock for almost two years without them being a hassle.

 

[Katrina71]

PE mysis pellets. If you literally throw them in, they will sink.

 

[GSnake]

my watchman never came to the top for food. but he was watching food pass by and near him. he used to go half way up tank to collect flakes passing by.. that's just how the flow was setup. rest assured he will be hungry and get his food if he knows its there.

 

[GSnake]

also get a pistol shrimp for him! aside from clown and anemone. its the best pair you can have

 

[Nathan Milender]

Mine is picky as well. He seems to really enjoy watching the food drop around him while giving me the finger (flicks his fins at me). I shave pe Mysis, lrs, nano, and occasional sub with caviar and blood worms as well hatch naupli and pe pellets just for the watchman. Overall seems to eat 1-2 pe pellets a day, picks at the gravel and glass. Prefers to let all food drop and then eat it once the current turns back on. Don't take this guy out to eat, you'll never get his order in.