Pink spotted watchman goby aggression

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

So I have a 3-4" pink spotted watchman goby in QT (20 gal.) right now ready to go into the DT (55 gal.). My concern is that he was aggressive with a purple firefish that was in the QT with him (the firefish is now in the DT). In addition to the firefish, I am also concerned about my 2" hi fin red banded goby. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether or not the pink spotted goby will be a problem? My hope is that since it is much bigger than the QT that everything will be alright but I am not sure if anyone else has had experience with pink spotted watchman gobies.

Thanks!

 

[GoVols]

No experience with one but I hope the bigger DT tanks works out for them too.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It should be fine, as long as they each have a territory they can claim.

 

[Eva Rose]

My obnoxious pink spot would run my yellow watchman goby and jawfish out of their respective caves. Then in a week or two claim one their new caves (switching back and forth).
My YWG and jawfish began to share a cave. The pink spot stopped contesting for their cave (2 fish to challenge in 1 cave). Now the pink spot, jawfish and YWG live in 3 separate caves. It helped that I gave the jawfish extra shells to guard his burrow. The YWG also pulled a shell at her burrow entrance.
So as @eatbreakfast stated once they can claim their space they can co exist. But if you plan on adding another bottom dwelling fish, you might want to rethink a pink spot.

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

My obnoxious pink spot would run my yellow watchman goby and jawfish out of their respective caves. Then in a week or two claim one their new caves (switching back and forth).
My YWG and jawfish began to share a cave. The pink spot stopped contesting for their cave (2 fish to challenge in 1 cave). Now the pink spot, jawfish and YWG live in 3 separate caves. It helped that I gave the jawfish extra shells to guard his burrow. The YWG also pulled a shell at her burrow entrance.
So as @eatbreakfast stated once they can claim their space they can co exist. But if you plan on adding another bottom dwelling fish, you might want to rethink a pink spot.

Thanks for your input, that's really helpful! The pink spot was not my first choice but it has been in QT for 14 weeks now and because of the effort that has gone into keeping him I would prefer it if there was a way for him to coexist in the DT. My biggest worry is that the hi fin goby will fit in the pink spot's mouth if he tried to eat it. Is there anything I can do to provide the pink spot with alternative caves/protection for the hi fin in addition to putting some extra shells by the hi fin's burrow? Also, I have a pistol shrimp that has not paired with the hi fin so if I got it to pair with the pink spot would that help curb the aggression?

 

[GoVols]

Also, I have a pistol shrimp that has not paired with the hi fin so if I got it to pair with the pink spot would that help curb the aggression?

Tagging to the above.
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When I had a pistol it was huge and paired up with a Randall's goby and they were awesome. That giant pistol was like a bulldozer (tunnels everywhere) and the goby would help the almost blind pistol find food during feeding time. The pistol would keep it's feelers at the goby's tail, so it knew all was safe (lol)... or not.

The pink spot may calm down or get worse (While protecting a bonded pistol)

 

[Eva Rose]

Thanks for your input, that's really helpful! The pink spot was not my first choice but it has been in QT for 14 weeks now and because of the effort that has gone into keeping him I would prefer it if there was a way for him to coexist in the DT. My biggest worry is that the hi fin goby will fit in the pink spot's mouth if he tried to eat it. Is there anything I can do to provide the pink spot with alternative caves/protection for the hi fin in addition to putting some extra shells by the hi fin's burrow? Also, I have a pistol shrimp that has not paired with the hi fin so if I got it to pair with the pink spot would that help curb the aggression?

I took extra small live rocks and made 2 extra little "caves" as "escape dens" or options for the jawfish/YWG in case my pink spot ousted either from his home. This helped give a stressed fish a hiding spot, just in case. Shells near the entrance are fine. A goby may or may not use those shells. Jawfish love them.
I made a cave with live rock , shells and coral glue for my YWG, because she was very tiny (bite size) at the time. I made the entrance too small for the pink spot. The YWG used it for a brief time, then she roomed with the jawfish and finally went to her own cave.

As for the pink spot pairing with the pistol shrimp, I don't know if you can encourage this relationship or not. The reef squad could advise you there.

But since your pink spot has shown aggressive tendancies, you could have a Plan B in mind. I just wanted to mention my experience because once in a DT, gobies are hard fish to catch. See my old post:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/recommend-a-good-fish-trap.259664/#post-3079590

But (fingers crossed) now my 3 bottom dwellers co-exist. All 3 have separate caves in the front of the tank, with about 11 inches between each cave.
Hope yours will settle in nicely once it is in your DT tank!!

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

I took extra small live rocks and made 2 extra little "caves" as "escape dens" or options for the jawfish/YWG in case my pink spot ousted either from his home. This helped give a stressed fish a hiding spot, just in case. Shells near the entrance are fine. A goby may or may not use those shells. Jawfish love them.
I made a cave with live rock , shells and coral glue for my YWG, because she was very tiny (bite size) at the time. I made the entrance too small for the pink spot. The YWG used it for a brief time, then she roomed with the jawfish and finally went to her own cave.

As for the pink spot pairing with the pistol shrimp, I don't know if you can encourage this relationship or not. The reef squad could advise you there.

But since your pink spot has shown aggressive tendancies, you could have a Plan B in mind. I just wanted to mention my experience because once in a DT, gobies are hard fish to catch. See my old post:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/recommend-a-good-fish-trap.259664/#post-3079590

But (fingers crossed) now my 3 bottom dwellers co-exist. All 3 have separate caves in the front of the tank, with about 11 inches between each cave.
Hope yours will settle in nicely once it is in your DT tank!!

Awesome that's really helpful! What size is our tank?

 

[Eva Rose]

Awesome that's really helpful! What size is our tank?

300 gal.

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

300 gal.

Ohhh mine is only 55 gallons so I may be playing with fire here.