Yellow Clown Goby

Mike628 · Mar 21, 2015

I'm wanting to add a Yellow Clown Goby to my 4 gallon nano and all that's in the tank is a file fish. Would this be a good addition?

Sobo's Reef · Mar 21, 2015

Most recommend them in a 10g but you shouldn't really have a filefish in a 4g tank either.

eatbreakfast · Mar 21, 2015

The yellow clown goby should be fine in 4g, but the filefish probably wont be fine for long.

Mike628 · Mar 21, 2015

I have the file fish for aptasia

Daniel@R2R · Mar 22, 2015

Agreed with those above. If it's a matted filefish (the kind recommended for aiptasia), he will be way too large for a 4g tank. His recommended minimum tank size is 30 gallons. The yellow clown goby would be fine in a 10g (4g would be pushing it). There aren't many fish that can go in a 4g. Perhaps some kind of a shrimp would be the best option?

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2015

I've heard you can't use peppermint shrimp without literally starving them before putting them in your tank that's why I got the file fish plus when I told my LFS that I needed something for aptasia they told me a file fish was the best option.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 22, 2015

Mike628 said:
I've heard you can't use peppermint shrimp without literally starving them before putting them in your tank that's why I got the file fish plus when I told my LFS that I needed something for aptasia they told me a file fish was the best option.

Did you tell your LFS your tank is only 4g? I'd hope they wouldn't recommend putting a filefish in a 4g tank. Also, I've never heard anyone say that you have to starve a peppermint shrimp for any reason. If your tank is only 4 gallons, why not just remove the aiptasia manually?

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2015

My LFS sold me the tank as a setup that they set up they knew the size and I told them again that it was a 4 gallon and I was told that the file fish would be fine. And I was told peppermint shrimp should be starved so that it goes after the aptasia

saltyphish · Mar 22, 2015

Your LFS does not give good advice then, sorry. I would not go to them for advice. We have to be responsible aquarists, recommending a 30g min requirement fish into a 4g is terribly wrong. In the future do some research on any livestock purchases. Some LFS are only interested in making a sale and not your success in the hobby. Good Luck and feel free to ask any other questions.

Mike628 said:
My LFS sold me the tank as a setup that they set up they knew the size and I told them again that it was a 4 gallon and I was told that the file fish would be fine. And I was told peppermint shrimp should be starved so that it goes after the aptasia

Eric81 · Mar 22, 2015

I have found peppermint shrimp quite efficient in ridding my frag tank of aptaisia, and without starving them. If the file fish is eating them, leave him there until they are gone, then sell him, as he will quickly outgrow your tank. I would then get a few pepper mints to take care of any stragglers that the file fish might have missed. Your clown goby will be fine in that tank.

Cheers!