Watchman gobies clean sand?

[Ghostyboythedog]

HI,
I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 clowns and a royal gramma. And are watchman gobies good for cleaning the sand bed. I have hermit crabs, but they don't really clean the sand bed. And I love watchman gobies because they look like they hate everything in the world just cute to me. So can I, and do they clean the sand bed?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Not really. They will only move sand to make their burrow, but even then they are not "cleaning" it.

 

[sfin52]

HI,
I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 clowns and a royal gramma. And are watchman gobies good for cleaning the sand bed. I have hermit crabs, but they don't really clean the sand bed. And I love watchman gobies because they look like they hate everything in the world just cute to me. So can I, and do they clean the sand bed?

You need a sand sifting goby

 

[windsor_salt]

my YWG would shift through the sand, not sure if he was catching copepods. It was cool as he chews on it a bit and spits it out of his gills!

 

[Swbvegas]

Get better inverts. Your tank is maxed on fish.

 

[JayM]

Mine sifts sand occasionally, but I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere near enough to keep anything clean. Maybe a couple of square inches at best.

 

[barftholomew777]

You can definitely do a conch snail always do a great job at cleaning sand bed forsure! Also nassaruis snails are awesome!

 

[Cell]

Diamond, yes. Yellow, not great but will still help a bit.

 

[TinnysReef]

If you want a tiny guy to sift sand you could try a two spot goby. They have the same constantly disappointed mug. They hop along the sand with their 2 fins more dramatically than the watchman too.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

HI,
I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 clowns and a royal gramma. And are watchman gobies good for cleaning the sand bed. I have hermit crabs, but they don't really clean the sand bed. And I love watchman gobies because they look like they hate everything in the world just cute to me. So can I, and do they clean the sand bed?

Not really, you need a diamond goby! Mine moves sand all day long

 

[Lineatus]

If you want a tiny guy to sift sand you could try a two spot goby. They have the same constantly disappointed mug. They hop along the sand with their 2 fins more dramatically than the watchman too.

Two spot gobies are ridiculously difficult to keep, even in large tanks. I would not recommend one in a 20 gallon, unless the tank was specifically built for them.

 

[Razorbacks]

I also have a 20 gallon. It's a 20 long and that distinction does matter for fish count a bit. I have 2 clowns, 1 royal gramma like you and what I feel is the most over looked watchman, the pink spot watchman. First off this fish is flat out gorgeous. Online pictures don't do it justice. He is not a true sand sifter like a diamond but anecdotally and from my experience they do sift a fair amount. It's not in a single spot to build a single burrow, he moves around. It's not like a diamond which is going to sift nonstop all day, but the goby's movement along the bottom and sifting behavior do aid in keeping the sandbed cleaner. I also have a small conch which does more in that regard.

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

Not really, you need a diamond goby! Mine moves sand all day long

Yes bit a diamond is to big for a 20

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

I also have a 20 gallon. It's a 20 long and that distinction does matter for fish count a bit. I have 2 clowns, 1 royal gramma like you and what I feel is the most over looked watchman, the pink spot watchman. First off this fish is flat out gorgeous. Online pictures don't do it justice. He is not a true sand sifter like a diamond but anecdotally and from my experience they do sift a fair amount. It's not in a single spot to build a single burrow, he moves around. It's not like a diamond which is going to sift nonstop all day, but the goby's movement along the bottom and sifting behavior do aid in keeping the sandbed cleaner. I also have a small conch which does more in that regard.

Okay thank you, I will look at them. Am I over stocked or no?

 

[Razorbacks]

Okay thank you, I will look at them. Am I over stocked or no?

If you have a 20 long I think you're fine adding the watchman. If it's a tall then I probably wouldn't but you might be able to add something else smaller like a clown goby.