Rainford Goby

McGene · Nov 5, 2018

purchased a Rainford Goby a few days ago. Came from Biota who specializes in captive breed and assures all fish are eating well before shipping.
Living in a JBJ45 with 2 clowns 3 cardinals 1 royal gramma.
Found himself a nice hiding place and haven’t seen him since. About 3 days now.
Should I assume he’ll come out when he gets good and hungry or is this typical of this fish? Was hoping for some sand sifting as others have enjoyed.

Old Fritz · Nov 5, 2018

They are super timid. When i added mine i didnt see him for a week. Then he would only come out when he could smell food. Then he got comfortable enough to stay out. Mine actually swims with the clownfish because they protect him from my mean orchid dottyback.

Pbh-reef · Nov 5, 2018

They are timid indeed. I have never really seen mine eat and yet I’ve had her since early September and seen her poop. Mine also comes from biota.

She doesn’t seem to much care about what I do like when I feed or when lights come
On or off. But she is at at around the same times during the day.

McGene · Nov 6, 2018

Thanks for the replies.
Do either of your Rainfords for any sand sifting that you can tell? They are supposed to be "neater" than most when it comes to sifting -- no "snow" in the water column.
My sand is in need of some sifting. I debate with myself about cleaning it during water changes -- or leaving it alone to avoid disturbing it and the beneficial bacteria. Who knows

Pbh-reef · Nov 6, 2018

Mine moved a lot of sand at first to make a cave for itself under a rock. After that it sifts sand less often and mostly eats algae off rocks

jd371 · Nov 6, 2018

Mine was the same at first, now he's not shy and gets into the feeding frenzy when I feed my fish. Started out just sifting and now has started eating Black worms and other foods that I feed the fish.

McGene said:
Thanks for the replies.
Do either of your Rainfords for any sand sifting that you can tell? They are supposed to be "neater" than most when it comes to sifting -- no "snow" in the water column.
My sand is in need of some sifting. I debate with myself about cleaning it during water changes -- or leaving it alone to avoid disturbing it and the beneficial bacteria. Who knows

That's what I love about this guy. When he's sifting he stays close to the sand so it doesn't blow around and I have that very fine sugar type sand. The worst it gets is once and a while there might be a sprinkling of sand on some corals but never had any of them buried, they are very neat when compared to other sifters.

Pbh-reef · Nov 6, 2018

jd371 said:
Mine was the same at first, now he's not shy and gets into the feeding frenzy when I feed my fish. Started out just sifting and now has started eating Black worms and other foods that I feed the fish.

That's what I love about this guy. When he's sifting he stays close to the sand so it doesn't blow around and I have that very fine sugar type sand. The worst it gets is once and a while there might be a sprinkling of sand on some corals but never had any of them buried, they are very neat when compared to other sifters.

Just wondering- how long did it take for yours to join the feeding frenzy? And how big was it when you got it?

jd371 · Nov 6, 2018

I bought him in March and he started eating with the other fish around the beginning of September.

This was taken around the time I put him in the DT. The only difference now
is he has a belly on him.

Here's a short video of my Dragonet eating black worms and the
Rainford coming in to slurp one up.

Pbh-reef · Nov 6, 2018

Ok 5 months good to know!

McGene · Nov 7, 2018

This thread gives me hope. My guy has found a nice cubby hole and so far has not ventured out....of course I’m not there to watch all day.
Hopefully he will eat something.
My wife always reminds me to give a few weeks. Wow I will have to exercise real patience if it takes 5 months

Nathan Milender · Feb 10, 2019

I have one of those. I have no idea what he eats but his colors stay good. I never see him get the frozen but I do see him pick at the sand and the rocks. I hope he is not like a mandarin and requires copepods (which I have seeded but I have no idea if there are enough). Foods I have seen him ignore, PE frozen and the smallest pellet, lrs reef frenzy nano, hikari blood worms frozen, reef caviar, brine shrimp direct flakes. I also put in live naupli, this could be what he eats but they are small so I am not sure. Seems to be doing fine though and nothing seems to go after him.

McGene · Feb 11, 2019

My little guy is busy all the time. He seems completely comfortable with all the other fish. Sifts the sand constantly -- but, being small he's not covering my corals with sand. I wish I had a few more -- but, I only buy Biota Rainfords, and the shop that I bought him from has closed.

Baldguy · Feb 11, 2019

I ordered one of these from LA. I wanted captive bred and that's what I got. Interestingly, the captive bred was cheaper than the wild caught.

Jesterrace · Feb 12, 2019

Old Fritz said:
They are super timid. When i added mine i didnt see him for a week. Then he would only come out when he could smell food. Then he got comfortable enough to stay out. Mine actually swims with the clownfish because they protect him from my mean orchid dottyback.

Now that's impressive. Normally the clowns are the ones doing the bullying.

Nathan Milender · Feb 12, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Now that's impressive. Normally the clowns are the ones doing the bullying.

Did someone say it was being a bully? I find that hard to believe. The fish has no offense. The tailspot had that thing cowered into a corner at first, now that is a pound for pound bully.

Jesterrace · Feb 13, 2019

Nathan Milender said:
Did someone say it was being a bully? I find that hard to believe. The fish has no offense. The tailspot had that thing cowered into a corner at first, now that is a pound for pound bully.

No he said that the clowns were basically protecting the goby from his mean dottyback. I just found it interesting that they are protecting another fish rather than bullying it.

Nathan Milender · Feb 13, 2019

Jesterrace said:
No he said that the clowns were basically protecting the goby from his mean dottyback. I just found it interesting that they are protecting another fish rather than bullying it.

Ah, that makes more sense. Not that I've ever seen a clown protect anything other than his spot or food, but that it was not the rainford doing the fighting. Maybe there is something about it that makes other fish defend it. I do find it strange to see all my blennies squabbling and the rainford just cruises through like he is not even there.