How many gobies is too many?

[kput]

Tank is a 4' 120 gallon. I currently have 3 Zebra Dartfish that inhabit a cave on one side of the tank. 2 red Firefish that inhabit one on the other side.
I've got 2 pistol shrimp in QT currently I'd like to pair with a YWG, and a Yasha as well.


I'd like to also add a pair of Fire Prawn gobies, and a sand sifter, but I'm starting to think I might be pushing it bounds of what will get along together.. looking for any experience or advice mixing so many different varieties in this size tank.

Thanks!

 

[lebreef]

Dartfish are not gobies nor do they occupy the same space in the tank so take them out of the equation.
Yasha and YWG should be fine as probably each will choose a borrow and will stick close by.
Fire gobies, if you mean Discordipinna griessingeri, they will hide and you probably will not see them till you dismantle the tank!
Sand sifters also will not interfere with your other fish but comes with its own challenge of keeping it well fed.

 

[kput]

Dartfish are not gobies nor do they occupy the same space in the tank so take them out of the equation.
Yasha and YWG should be fine as probably each will choose a borrow and will stick close by.
Fire gobies, if you mean Discordipinna griessingeri, they will hide and you probably will not see them till you dismantle the tank!
Sand sifters also will not interfere with your other fish but comes with its own challenge of keeping it well fed.

The zebras are often referred to as gobies, though. Bar goby, etc. They spend a lot of time in their caves, and don't take kindly to visitors, hence my concern about the watchmen, Yasha, and others that might venture nearby.

But good info on the others. I know the sand sifters can be a PITA, but the alternative is to buy some fighting conchs and other snails and wait 76 days for them to make it from QT and into the tank. I'm impatient and want the sand looking clean now

 

[Eva Rose]

Are you going to QT the new fish? I assume so, since you would QT inverts for correct 76 days.

I had a YWG, jawfish & a Pink Spotted goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus). There was competition for burrow space & they were in a 300 gal. Adding a sand shifter(s) might cause one of the gobies to encroach on a current goby’s established space.
In my 300 gal my jawfish & YWG bonded & shared a cave, The Pink Spot kept stealing their spot & they would relocate. I could not catch the a Pink Spot, so this went on for a year. Finally the Pink Spot chilled out & stopped claiming their territory.

So I would look at what areas each fish has claimed. If there is not a lot of territory left, I would not add too many. The bottom caves they claim need enough distance/separation, so the fish don’t feel stressed.

As for your sand, you can siphon your sand bed during water changes. One member posted a sand cleaning method where he stirs the sand bed in sections & stages.

 

[ShellSea]

what about a YWG and a diamond watchman?
i have a 48 by 24 120 gallon tank.

 

[kput]

what about a YWG and a diamond watchman?
i have a 48 by 24 120 gallon tank.

I've got a blue spotted YWG, and a banded Dragon goby in my 120 with same dimensions and they've been doing great. The banded actually drops down and sleeps under the same rock space as the YWG/Pistol pair.

The YWG is only aggressive towards the tang lol

 

[AlexAbel197]

Ive never had gobies fight eachother. I would think as long as there is enough sand and rock they would be fine.

 

[brad shawn]

I currently have a pair of Randall’s shrimp gobies along with a hi-fin red bar goby with a pistol shrimp. None really venture far froM their holes. My reef is a foot shorter than yours.