Sand sifting fish recommendations???

jgvergo · Sep 3, 2018

I'm looking to add a sand sifting fish to my 85 gal tank. Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Pretty - should have interesting coloration and pattering. The more the better!
2. Personality - interesting to watch
3: Sand sifting - I want an inhabitant that turns over the sand aggressively. I don't mind if sand gets deposited on corals...I'll blow it off nightly with a turkey baster.
4. Peaceful - should get along with most other inhabitants: clowns, fire gobies, kaudern cardinal fish, red stripe angelfish, yellow eyed kole tang, dwarf flame angel.

Thoughts???

Benga · Sep 3, 2018

I don't know too much about it but i had one sand sifter, the common Diamond goby. I didn't know what to expect but the next morning it looked like my tank went from the plateaus to the Rocky mountains. So I would say he did a good job at sand turnover for a 40b. He kept to himself but eventually made a jump for it and didn't make it.

Nick30G · Sep 3, 2018

I'll tell you that my Pistol Shrimp sure turns over the sand! Its personality with the YWG is very cool to watch too. If you dont mind the occasional sand storm or mounds of sand being moved around like a bull dowser the pistol shrimp is my "sand sifter". He sure keeps the sand mixed up and moved around

GoPitt88 · Sep 3, 2018

I have a Diamond Goby as well. While they aren’t full of color, their beauty is subtle, and I like the look of his face. I call him Mr. Grumpy [emoji3] Anyway, if you get a goby, make sure you have a screen top. They definitely are jumpers when spooked.

DSC reef · Sep 3, 2018

We kept a sleeper goby, very friendly and active. Got tired of blowing sand of the corals every day though;Shifty

4FordFamily · Sep 3, 2018

Bella gobies! Beautiful pink fish!

TX_Punisher · Sep 3, 2018

Diamond goby. Mine is always tunneling.

Sailingeric · Sep 3, 2018

I have a sleeper banded goby. Easy going, busy sand sifting, and eats other foods so having clean sand won't starve it.

jgvergo · Sep 3, 2018

Benga said:
I don't know too much about it but i had one sand sifter, the common Diamond goby. I didn't know what to expect but the next morning it looked like my tank went from the plateaus to the Rocky mountains. So I would say he did a good job at sand turnover for a 40b. He kept to himself but eventually made a jump for it and didn't make it.

Sad! I do have screens on my tank though, so jumping should not be an issue.

jgvergo · Sep 3, 2018

Nick30G said:
I'll tell you that my Pistol Shrimp sure turns over the sand! Its personality with the YWG is very cool to watch too. If you dont mind the occasional sand storm or mounds of sand being moved around like a bull dowser the pistol shrimp is my "sand sifter". He sure keeps the sand mixed up and moved around

I have been interested in the symbiotic relationship of pistol shrimps and YWGs. maybe I'll pull the trigger on both!

jgvergo · Sep 3, 2018

DSC reef said:
We kept a sleeper hobby, very friendly and active. Got tired of blowing sand of the corals every day though;Shifty

That's a very pretty fish!

jgvergo · Sep 3, 2018

4FordFamily said:
Bella gobies! Beautiful pink fish!

That is pretty (EXPENSIVE!!!) fish

. I'll have to clean that with my accountant (wife).

Maggie321 · Sep 3, 2018

I have a pistol shrimp and a tangaroa goby... pretty sure the goby does nothing, but that pistol shrimp, he's a busy li'l guy. I think they do more as a pair than they would do on their own. I only have a 39g, but I think this one would be busy enough for at least a 60g.

Sense of nature · Sep 4, 2018

Tiger gobies are a favorite of mine, similar disposition as a Diamond gobie.

jd371 · Sep 4, 2018

I love my Rainford goby. Sifts the sand all day long without making a mess, I've noticed other sifters swim up into the water column when sifting so the sand gets blown around, but the Rainford stays close to the sand. When he's not sifting the sand he's eating algae off the surfaces in the tank so that's another plus. The Rainford and the two Conch snails keep my sand spotless.

jgvergo · Sep 4, 2018

jd371 said:
I love my Rainford goby. Sifts the sand all day long without making a mess, I've noticed other sifters swim up into the water column when sifting so the sand gets blown around, but the Rainford stays close to the sand. When he's not sifting the sand he's eating algae off the surfaces in the tank so that's another plus. The Rainford and the two Conch snails keep my sand spotless.

That's a gorgeous fish! It's definitely a possibility

jgvergo · Sep 4, 2018

jd371 said:
I love my Rainford goby. Sifts the sand all day long without making a mess, I've noticed other sifters swim up into the water column when sifting so the sand gets blown around, but the Rainford stays close to the sand. When he's not sifting the sand he's eating algae off the surfaces in the tank so that's another plus. The Rainford and the two Conch snails keep my sand spotless.

@norfolkgarden , do you know if it will pair up with a Pistol shrimp?