Watchman goby burying corals?

AC1211 · Jul 4, 2019

Do diamond watchman gobies bury all corals in the sand?
Could I place torch corals and tridacna clams on the sandbed?

Leslie Tabor · Jul 4, 2019

These guys will bury anything near their burrow. My jawfish and I are also in a constant battle. I recommend not putting anything sensitive near their home area and/or you have to be very committed to blowing sand off of stuff before it dies. They will also steal anything they can carry for building material so keep that in mind as well.

Jesterrace · Jul 4, 2019

Skip the Goby and go with a conch snail, much better option for someone looking to place corals down low:

Leslie Tabor · Jul 4, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Skip the Goby and go with a conch snail, much better option for someone looking to place corals down low:

Awww but gobys are so much fun! One of my favorite fish is my Engineer goby, keeps all the sand turned over where I can reach.

AC1211 · Jul 4, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Skip the Goby and go with a conch snail, much better option for someone looking to place corals down low:

Already have the goby

Entz · Jul 4, 2019

Leslie Tabor said:
These guys will bury anything near their burrow. My jawfish and I are also in a constant battle. I recommend not putting anything sensitive near their home area and/or you have to be very committed to blowing sand off of stuff before it dies. They will also steal anything they can carry for building material so keep that in mind as well.

This. Mine is using snail shells now lol.

Mine also would change burrows from time to time so not everything is safe. Lot like an Anemone, its all great till it moves. What has worked, not totally by choice but I think I am going to keep it, is I have a mostly barebottom tank with a patch of sand. He can play, make his burrow, but he has to choose between annoying everything and his burrow. I think it is working so far...

nereefpat · Jul 4, 2019

I wouldn't keep any corals that you care about in the sand when keeping a sand sifting goby (diamond isn't a "watchman").

I'm not a clam guy, so someone else can help you with whether or not clams can handle getting sand dropped on them.