Goby Compatibility in a Pico

[GobyGuy]

I have a 5gal pico, pics posted on my profile if searchable - I have 2 clowns, 2 pistol shrimp, and a Yellow Watchman Goby, I have 2 tiger pistol shrimp because I thought the first one died but he was just hiding, I’ve since tried 2 different types of goby’s and neither paired with the pistol and both in fact jumped out of the tank. Is there any chance in a 2nd YWG being a successful pair?

 

[Tired]

Your tank is already overstocked. Stop adding fish. Ideally, remove the clownfish- a single watchman goby is probably OK in a 5gal, but the clownfish are going to be cramped if they aren't already.

They jumped because watchman gobies are territorial. You should have had a lid on the tank, and, more importantly, that's not going to work out at all. The existing watchman will drive any other shrimpgobies out of the tank.

Once you remove the clownfish, if you really want another fish, you could try a clown or trimma goby. Non-shrimpgobies are generally compatible with shrimpgobies.

(Sorry for the bluntness, but I don't really know how else to put this.)

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

No more fish in that tank, too many already.

 

[GobyGuy]

Your tank is already overstocked. Stop adding fish. Ideally, remove the clownfish- a single watchman goby is probably OK in a 5gal, but the clownfish are going to be cramped if they aren't already.

They jumped because watchman gobies are territorial. You should have had a lid on the tank, and, more importantly, that's not going to work out at all. The existing watchman will drive any other shrimpgobies out of the tank.

Once you remove the clownfish, if you really want another fish, you could try a clown or trimma goby. Non-shrimpgobies are generally compatible with shrimpgobies.

(Sorry for the bluntness, but I don't really know how else to put this.)

The lid that was on left a margin open on the back the width of the HOB filter hanging into the tank, I think I’m going to keep the clowns and upgrade to a larger tank as they’ve already paired since purchasing and are a nice Wyoming white and midnight color combo - thanks for the advice on the gobies is it detrimental to have the tiger pistol solo by himself?

 

[Tired]

If you have two pistol shrimp that haven't formed a mated pair, I'm honestly surprised they haven't killed each other in a tank that size. Tiger pistols are a bit large for a 5gal anyway. Pistol shrimp live fine on their own, though you'll generally see them less, and having two separate shrimpgobies in the same tank doesn't work out well in most tanks.

Upgrading is a good idea. For two clowns, 10gal is an absolute minimum. 20 would be better. If you buy the new tank and get all the equipment set up, you can cycle it instantly by simply transferring all your rock to the new tank. Don't transfer your old sand (or rinse it very thoroughly before you do), and you should be good.

 

[GobyGuy]

If you have two pistol shrimp that haven't formed a mated pair, I'm honestly surprised they haven't killed each other in a tank that size. Tiger pistols are a bit large for a 5gal anyway. Pistol shrimp live fine on their own, though you'll generally see them less, and having two separate shrimpgobies in the same tank doesn't work out well in most tanks.

Upgrading is a good idea. For two clowns, 10gal is an absolute minimum. 20 would be better. If you buy the new tank and get all the equipment set up, you can cycle it instantly by simply transferring all your rock to the new tank. Don't transfer your old sand (or rinse it very thoroughly before you do), and you should be good.

I’m looking at a 29g for a good price on fb marketplace, I’m planning on upgrading to that, would it be to much to ask you how to incorporate more rock without messing up the cycling status?

 

[i cant think]

With a watchman, don’t even try any other goby. I don’t recommend mixing watchman’s with other gobies in a tank less than 3’ (4’ will be better). The tiger pistol will get to 2” with the watchman getting to 4”. This is a large goby and whilst they aren’t active, they’re HIGHLY territorial. To mix gobies in a nano you ideally want to go for a Stonogobiops/Amblyeleotris shrimp goby. All gobies in the genus Cryptocentrus are territorial, they really shouldn’t be in nano tanks with other gobies.

If you want an idea on territory… I have a 2” Cryptocentrus cinctus. This guy will warn off my 4” Halichoeres iridis. None of my fish mess with him or his pistol shrimp.

 

[Tired]

To add more rock, you can do one of two things, after you've transferred the rock from the pico to the new tank.

You can buy dry rock, rinse it thoroughly, and add it straight away. Dry rock can be added to a running tank with no harm to anything.

Alternately, you can transfer everything to the new tank, buy some live rock, and put the live rock in a bucket to cure. Cured live rock can also be safely added to running tanks, and it shouldn't hurt the bigger tank to have a pico amount of live rock for a little bit.

A 29g would be good. That would let you keep 4-6 nano sized fish, bioload-wise, though you'll have to be careful of territory disputes and aggression. No more shrimpgobies until this one dies of old age.

 

[KQuillan]

I was a bit surprised when I saw your fish quantity in a 5-gallon myself. I have a 12-gallon with 2 clowns, pistol shrimp, and high fin goby and I think they need more room. I'm getting ready to transfer everything over to my 38G. It's ready, just waiting for a bracket for my light.
@Tired do I have to acclimate coral and fish again before the transfer?

 

[i cant think]

I was a bit surprised when I saw your fish quantity in a 5-gallon myself. I have a 12-gallon with 2 clowns, pistol shrimp, and high fin goby and I think they need more room. I'm getting ready to transfer everything over to my 38G. It's ready, just waiting for a bracket for my light.
@Tired do I have to acclimate coral and fish again before the transfer?

If you use as much water from the old tank as possible you shouldn’t need to. Just make sure everything is as close as possible.

 

[Tired]

I was a bit surprised when I saw your fish quantity in a 5-gallon myself. I have a 12-gallon with 2 clowns, pistol shrimp, and high fin goby and I think they need more room. I'm getting ready to transfer everything over to my 38G. It's ready, just waiting for a bracket for my light.
@Tired do I have to acclimate coral and fish again before the transfer?

I would personally do a small acclimation. You should put your fish and corals into a bucket anyway so you can safely move everything and arrange the rockwork in the new tank, and it won't be difficult to do a quick "add a cup of water every few minutes until the volume doubles" acclimation while you've got them in the bucket. It probably isn't required, any more than we usually have to acclimate fish after water changes, but it won't hurt. Just be sure to put a lid on the bucket, or keep it shallow so nothing can leap out.