Who else has an engineer goby?

Daniel@R2R · Oct 15, 2020

So I didn't plan to get one, but the kids and I set out to explore all the great stores around LA (Thanks for the amazing suggestions @terraincognita!) , and we found a really healthy one at Mark's Tropical Fish, and we had to bring him home with us. The kids named him Billy the Eel before we ever got out of the store. I figured he'd be a fun addition since I need someone to stir my sand bed a bit, and I've got a solid rock structure. We haven't seen him in the last couple of days, but the evidence of his happy work is all around so we figure he's fine (and doing a great job with the sand bed stirring). I'm pretty excited about the new addition!

Who else is keeping one of these guys? What's been your experience?

Btw, I forgot to take a pic of Billy before he started digging, but here's a great photo by @wooglins!

Dancingmad · Oct 15, 2020

Great fish with lots of personality. I've had mine about 5 years or so. Moves the sand around big time - wouldn't dream of keeping any other corals/creatures that occupy the bottom area of the tank he lives in.

I estimate mine is about 1' - 1'2" long. Heres an old pic from a few years ago for fun.

xxkenny90xx · Oct 15, 2020

We've had one for about a year and never see it except at feeding time. Sometimes I'll play tug o war with it with some food just so we can see the thing!

ButteMTDIY · Oct 15, 2020

I've had a couple of juveniles for a few months. They've never been shy about coming out but they seem to do all their work after dark. Starting to get their adult pattern. Cool to watch the change.

Daniel@R2R · Oct 15, 2020

Dancingmad said:
Great fish with lots of personality. I've had mine about 5 years or so. Moves the sand around big time - wouldn't dream of keeping any other corals/creatures that occupy the bottom area of the tank he lives in.

I estimate mine is about 1' - 1'2" long. Heres an old pic from a few years ago for fun.

That's a big dude!

Jakob · Oct 15, 2020

really making me want one. Are they best in pairs? How much sand do they need?

Ajayabb · Oct 15, 2020

i have a pair that are 2 years old now and measure about 5 inches long. They burrow under the rocks and sift a ton of sand in the evening each night. Can be a bit of a pain moving sand back into place but they keep the sand free of diatoms and cyano.

Scott's reef · Oct 15, 2020

I bought a baby and after two days I sadly never seen him again. Actually heartbroken because I fell in love with him.

ButteMTDIY · Oct 15, 2020

Jakob said:
really making me want one. Are they best in pairs? How much sand do they need?

Was told they did best in pairs as juveniles but mine immediately posted up on opposite ends of my tank. Hard to say what goes on at night though...

Brian_68 · Oct 15, 2020

I had a couple for years. They are very personable and throw sand everywhere, including possibly on that clam in the pic.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 15, 2020

Mine is about 12”

Bepis · Oct 16, 2020

Daniel I live in la and was thinking of visiting a bunch of stores. Which ones do you recommend. I’ve been visiting Ellis Aquatics for the last 2 years

Auquanut · Oct 16, 2020

I've had 2 in my 125 for the past 4 years. They're constantly closing old tunnels and opening new ones. They rarely come out completely any more, but they are massive. I think they are a mated pair just because they are always together and Greg is larger than Mazey. If I had to make a conservative guess, I'd say Greg is 14" and Mazey is 12". Greg is nearly as big around as my thumb. They can definitely make a mess, but I love em. It's a real treat when they occasionally show themselves.

Daniel@R2R · Oct 16, 2020

Bepis said:
Daniel I live in la and was thinking of visiting a bunch of stores. Which ones do you recommend. I’ve been visiting Ellis Aquatics for the last 2 years

I followed @terraincognita's suggestions. This is what she shared in another thread:

Yo’s Aquarium in Hollywood has AMAZING prices on common shrimp and other inverts.

I think he also has a private azn connection and gets some amazing frags and colonies for really cheap (AZN pride) I get most of my start up fish

Be sure to QT these fish though 100%
—-

Mark’s in NoHo has the best price on carpet nem’s always priced around 60-80

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Aquarium city in Canoga park which also is very close to my home thankfully has awesome fish prices.

I treat all their fish as diseased when I get them,whether or not they are as they have a big wall system with all the same water, and I’m you’ll always find 1 fish with something going on.....

A lot of local reefers also frag out to this store and if you frequent it enough (like I do) you. Can get some really neat and awesome sps or other softie frags for $20 only!
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there’s a super small shop alllll the way out in riverside, I forget the name but he sells some nice softy colonies, lobos and trachy for $80-100

otherwise for the prettiest ones I always wait for Vivid Aquariums or Golden State Corals to have a sale!

LAX aquarium has the biggest selection, and every now and then you can get a nice deal on some bigger frags. But mostly they’re higher end of fair market pricing.

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another store way out in Pasadena has often more unique and rare items like mantis shrimp and other inverts, he also is one of the only to carry Expensive scollies in store.

stores not very well maintained, not sure if the pandemic had anything to do with it? But back in 2011 it was in my top 5. Now not so much beyond the fact he still has the more unique species IMO.

lastly deep blue has great 5 frag for $100 zoa tank.

best zoa collection I’ve ever seen

Her suggestions were solid. I will say that I really liked Golden State Corals and Vivid Aquariums a lot. Mark's had a good selection of fish too.

Bepis · Oct 16, 2020

Daniel@R2R said:
I followed @terraincognita's suggestions. This is what she shared in another thread:

Her suggestions were solid. I will say that I really liked Golden State Corals and Vivid Aquariums a lot. Mark's had a good selection of fish too.

My brother used to be one of the main men at vivid. Dave’s a great guy