Need some thoughts on another goby

CarrieHess · Sep 25, 2020

So I have one watchman goby in my tank already. My tank is a 65gallon tank with quite a bit of rock work & hiding spots. I really would love to get a diamond back goby to help sift sand.

I guess what I am asking is it a bad idea to put another goby in the tank with the amount of space I have? Or would I be better off looking at a wrasse or something of the sort?

reefs4life · Sep 25, 2020

How long has the watchman been in the tank?

CarrieHess · Sep 25, 2020

reefs4life said:
How long has the watchman been in the tank?

I would say roughly 3.5 weeks

reefs4life · Sep 25, 2020

Does your goby have a burrow or does he roam around? Also what are the dimensions of your 65?

CarrieHess · Sep 25, 2020

reefs4life said:
Does your goby have a burrow or does he roam around? Also what are the dimensions of your 65?

He finally settled about a week ago. My tank is 36" long, 18" wide & 23" deep

terraincognita · Sep 25, 2020

I've heard some species of Shrimp Gobies will share burrows despite being seperate breeds.

Not sure which ones.

Otherwise you'd have to get a female or male counterpart YWMG or they'll fight.

CarrieHess · Sep 25, 2020

terraincognita said:
I've heard some species of Shrimp Gobies will share burrows despite being seperate breeds.

Not sure which ones.

Otherwise you'd have to get a female or male counterpart YWMG or they'll fight.

This may sound crazy but how would I know what sex they are?

terraincognita · Sep 25, 2020

CarrieHess said:
This may sound crazy but how would I know what sex they are?

You gotta get em in bed.

Jk, sorry don't know. Im not much help, just that random tidbit of info, to shine some glimmer of hope that you can do it lol.

Paul B · Sep 25, 2020

You should have no problem putting another gobi in there. Not a watchman now unless they are different sexes and they change sexes on their own, but not always unless you put them in together.

reefs4life · Sep 25, 2020

As PaulB already mentioned, I too think you'll be OK putting in another goby.

CarrieHess · Sep 25, 2020

Thank you everyone for your input! I kind of figured it would be okay but I always like to go on the side of caution if I can.

Zionas · Sep 25, 2020

Just to clarify: It’s easy to get a pair of YWGs if introduced together but not so much if added separately?

terraincognita · Sep 25, 2020

Zionas said:
Just to clarify: It’s easy to get a pair of YWGs if introduced together but not so much if added separately?

I think what someone was saying is like clowns they start A-Sexual and transform.

So I guess that would be dependent on their age. but seeing most fish from LFS's are Juvi's I can imagine it would be fine yes.

Maritimer · Sep 25, 2020

My understanding of yellow watchman gobies (possibly many of the watchman species, or even many of the gobies, not sure on that...) is that they can flip genders on an as-needed basis. Unlike angelfish (female > male) or clownfish (male > female), at least some of the gobies can go either way.

I can say with certainty that I've never had trouble pairing yellow (or grey, for that matter) watchmen. Easiest way, of course, is to purchase two smaller ones together and let them figure it out as they grow.

~B.

Paul B · Sep 27, 2020

I have a mated pair now and I always have mater pairs of them and I don't think it is just chance. I am pretty sure they change sex when they are young but I am not sure they can do it when they are older, but I am guessing.

They are very old here, maybe 8 or 9

This is her as a baby

And tending her eggs.

They started out yellow and as they aged, they turned brown. That pair lived about 10 or 12 years and I have a new breeding pair now.

Very nice fish and good luck