Watchman goby strange behaviour

[spamvicious]

I got a yellow watchman goby yesterday and almost immediately he found a place under a rock to burrow with just his face poking out so I assumed I wouldn’t spot him often.

Today however he has spent nearly all the time at the top of one side of tank apart from the odd break on the sand but then goes back to the top. I’ve seen him eat a couple of flakes of food but still very skittish behaviour.

Is it just new tank behaviour or supine I be concerned?. I have a plastic cover with any holes covered so it would be difficult for him to escape. My new pin cushion sea urchin also likes the same spot under the rock so I wonder if that’s bothered him?.

 

[Rtaylor]

Is he gasping at the surface like he can’t get enough air? If so that’s a concern. If not, it’s probably just still adjusting to the tank and inhabitants.

 

[spamvicious]

Is he gasping at the surface like he can’t get enough air? If so that’s a concern. If not, it’s probably just still adjusting to the tank and inhabitants.

No he doesn’t seem to be gasping. This morning he was chilled out on the sand but the rest of the day he’s just been swimming.

 

[i cant think]

No he doesn’t seem to be gasping. This morning he was chilled out on the sand but the rest of the day he’s just been swimming.

What else is in the tank with him?

 

[Crustaceon]

That's "picked on" behavior.

 

[spamvicious]

Hmm there are two clowns. Two hermit crabs some snails, a blood shrimp and a pin cushion urchin. The clowns are at the other side of the tank and haven’t really been near him. At the moment he’s kind of leaning on the glass but again at the top of the tank. In a 3 ft, 135 litre tank.

 

[i cant think]

Hmm there are two clowns. Two hermit crabs some snails, a blood shrimp and a pin cushion urchin. The clowns are at the other side of the tank and haven’t really been near him. At the moment he’s kind of leaning on the glass but again at the top of the tank.

Yeah, that’s “picked on” behaviour and bullying can go on behind your back. Which is also when it normally occurs, often when you don’t look at the tank the fish will behave differently as when you’re there they’ll either be expecting food or be scared.

 

[spamvicious]

Yeah, that’s “picked on” behaviour and bullying can go on behind your back. Which is also when it normally occurs, often when you don’t look at the tank the fish will behave differently as when you’re there they’ll either be expecting food or be scared.

Is there anything I can do? If the clowns are bullying him then surely he would go back to his cave?. Unless it’s another of the inverts.

 

[i cant think]

Is there anything I can do? If the clowns are bullying him then surely he would go back to his cave?. Unless it’s another of the inverts.

He wouldn’t necessarily go into the caves as the clowns may be keeping him up in the corner

 

[spamvicious]

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He wouldn’t necessarily go into the caves as the clowns may be keeping him up in the corner

I just carefully guided him down near the caves with a net and he stayed there for about a minute and then went back up to the top. The clowns go back and forth to each end of the tank.

 

[Derrick0580]

I have been unable to keep a watchman in my 120 as well. They kept getting into the weir and would end up in the filter socks. At first I thought it was because the scape I had there wasn’t a lot of hiding spots or places to burrow under. I gave that watchman to a friend with a 180 and he is acting normal in that tank. So I rearranged my scape, added more hiding spots then got another watchman, the new one did the same thing but never noticed any type of bullying.

 

[Mushroomsyo]

My watchman did this also when I first got him. I only had two clowns I'm the tank with him and they never bothered him so I doubt it's a result of aggression.

After I paired him with a pistol shrimp he has stopped swimming to the top and seems more happy overall. Get a pistol shrimp

 

[spamvicious]

My watchman did this also when I first got him. I only had two clowns I'm the tank with him and they never bothered him so I doubt it's a result of aggression.

After I paired him with a pistol shrimp he has stopped swimming to the top and seems more happy overall. Get a pistol shrimp

I was thinking of this but I already have a fire shrimp so I was worried they would fight. The fire shrimp never leaves his little cave on the other side of the tank tho.

 

[hmfaysal]

Most gobies do this, if it's not gasping for air, then its all good. Gobies are horrible carpet surfers, happens early in the morning, when you are not around. Lost two gobies so far

 

[Mushroomsyo]

I was thinking of this but I already have a fire shrimp so I was worried they would fight. The fire shrimp never leaves his little cave on the other side of the tank tho.

I have a fire shrimp also. They won't bother each other.

 

[spamvicious]

I have been unable to keep a watchman in my 120 as well. They kept getting into the weir and would end up in the filter socks. At first I thought it was because the scape I had there wasn’t a lot of hiding spots or places to burrow under. I gave that watchman to a friend with a 180 and he is acting normal in that tank. So I rearranged my scape, added more hiding spots then got another watchman, the new one did the same thing but never noticed any type of bullying.

I’ve just gone to have a look now that the lights have shut down for the night and he seems to have finally settled on the bottom. That might have changed in the last five minutes though

 

[spamvicious]

I have a fire shrimp also. They won't bother each other.

Oh ok I’ll have a look for one then thanks

 

[Derrick0580]

I was thinking of this but I already have a fire shrimp so I was worried they would fight. The fire shrimp never leaves his little cave on the other side of the tank tho.

Shouldn’t fight, just don’t get a tiger pistol. Try and find a candy cane pistol as they stay very small. I made the mistake of getting a tiger pistol and my cuc started coming up missing and he would bury corals all day long so when I took the rock out of the tank to get him out I found all of my empty snail shells in his burrow!

 

[Mushroomsyo]

I have a tiger and he hasn't killed any snails. If anything he seems very skidish and sacred of everything else in the besides the watchman.

 

[spamvicious]

Most gobies do this, if it's not gasping for air, then its all good. Gobies are horrible carpet surfers, happens early in the morning, when you are not around. Lost two gobies so far

I’ve got a plastic lid on the top so hopefully that won’t happen.