Let me tell you about this jerk...

[Baffels]

Got a 3.5" Yellow watchmen goby, a pistol shrimp and a Royal Gramma. Had the YWG and the royal in QT together for 30 days. Everything is cool.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, its display tank time! Acclimate together, everything is chill. As soon as I put them in the tank, the watchmen attacks the Royal, putting his whole head in his mouth. My wife starts screaming like she is witnessing a murder. I separate them. The Royal seemed ok, no visible wounds, swimming ok. He came out to eat last night, but haven't seen him all day today, even for food, might not have made it. Put my phone in a bag and looked around the back of the rocks, cant seem to see him at all.

The jerk is hiding under a rock, frowning at me.

 

[blaxsun]

"Burp!"

 

[Roatan Reef]

What a jerk!!

 

[Karen00]

I suspect it's the "new tank new rules" saying. All bets are off for a goby when there is new territory to claim especially if the habitat has caves, etc that make good homes. I have kept freshwater gobies for a long time and of course now saltwater gobies and they can be bitterly territorial and even more so when new territory needs to be claimed. I really hope you find your royal Gramma he's OK.

 

[Baffels]

I suspect it's the "new tank new rules" saying. All bets are off for a goby when there is new territory to claim especially if the habitat has caves, etc that make good homes. I have kept freshwater gobies for a long time and of course now saltwater gobies and they can be bitterly territorial and even more so when new territory needs to be claimed. I really hope you find your royal Gramma he's OK.

Havent seen the Gramma all day, ever for the two feedings Think he died under a rock. Stuck my phone down there and tried to video, but can't see him. Haven't seen the shrimp either, but he is just a little guy, so might not see him for months.

 

[Karen00]

Havent seen the Gramma all day, ever for the two feedings Think he died under a rock. Stuck my phone down there and tried to video, but can't see him. Haven't seen the shrimp either, but he is just a little guy, so might not see him for months.

Oh that sucks! Sorry to hear that. I will keep my fingers crossed just in case. Gobies are my favourite fish but they can be pains in the rear end!

 

[Breadbox]

That's so awful, I would have lost my mind if that happened to me, Royal gramma goes for the price of 6 YWG where I live. I think it's best if you remove the goby from the tank, fish sometimes get spooked by other fishes by their presence alone. My yellow watchman went into hiding after I added a flame angel, I've never seen the angel act aggressive towards the goby but it just went under a rock and dissappeared.

 

[sheeb]

Havent seen the Gramma all day, ever for the two feedings Think he died under a rock. Stuck my phone down there and tried to video, but can't see him. Haven't seen the shrimp either, but he is just a little guy, so might not see him for months.

had the same thing happen to be but a bit different. engineer goby thought it'd be a great idea to take a bite at my cleaner shrimp... and dead. along with my YWG, I haven't seen him for weeks and everything used to be peaceful

 

[Lavey29]

I bet your gramma survived but they are expert at hiding too. I mean the ocean can be a dangerous environment. Don't be surprised to see him pop out after a few more days especially since the goby has marked his spot now.

 

[i cant think]

Havent seen the Gramma all day, ever for the two feedings Think he died under a rock. Stuck my phone down there and tried to video, but can't see him. Haven't seen the shrimp either, but he is just a little guy, so might not see him for months.

What size tank is it? Cryptocentrus can be quite an aggressive genus compared to other gobies.
Also don’t lose hope instantly, I have had many of my fish vanish and then re-emerge after about 5 days of being MIA.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Gramma are expert hiders - check the filter.

 

[Baffels]

Thank you all for the advice! It's a 130 gallon tank.

I have a decision to make. Breadbox said it would be a good idea to move him out of the tank. So that was the plan today, but he just seems to be doing so well now. I have read that the initial shock of a new tank can cause a little aggression, but now he has his little rock and is chillin'. Hasnt attacked anything else, even during feeding.

Do you all think I need to move/return him?

 

[i cant think]

Thank you all for the advice! It's a 130 gallon tank.

I have a decision to make. Breadbox said it would be a good idea to move him out of the tank. So that was the plan today, but he just seems to be doing so well now. I have read that the initial shock of a new tank can cause a little aggression, but now he has his little rock and is chillin'. Hasnt attacked anything else, even during feeding.

Do you all think I need to move/return him?

I personally wouldn’t return him and would just keep a close eye on him.

 

[Karen00]

Thank you all for the advice! It's a 130 gallon tank.

I have a decision to make. Breadbox said it would be a good idea to move him out of the tank. So that was the plan today, but he just seems to be doing so well now. I have read that the initial shock of a new tank can cause a little aggression, but now he has his little rock and is chillin'. Hasnt attacked anything else, even during feeding.

Do you all think I need to move/return him?

My experience has been that once they stake out their territory they are fine. I think this goes for a lot of fish, not just gobies. I wouldn't return him but you could keep an eye on him.

 

[flyfisher2]

Don’t give up on the Royal Gramma
I have one that makes an appearance about once a month.
He just likes to hide
I’ve had him over two years in two different tanks with different fish
He just hates being out in the open

 

[Baffels]

I personally wouldn’t return him and would just keep a close eye on him.

I think thats the plan.

 

[Baffels]

So... how do I know if the Gramma is dead? New tank, so I don't have a cuc to eat the body...

 

[Jhav89]

So... how do I know if the Gramma is dead? New tank, so I don't have a cuc to eat the body...

Depending on how deep it has wedged itself into the rockwork, you may never know. Have you checked to see if it may have went carpet surfing or for a ride down an overflow?

 

[i cant think]

So... how do I know if the Gramma is dead? New tank, so I don't have a cuc to eat the body...

You don’t until a body emerges.

 

[Baffels]

Depending on how deep it has wedged itself into the rockwork, you may never know. Have you checked to see if it may have went carpet surfing or for a ride down an overflow?

Ya, check both floor and overflow... and sump