thumpersalley Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Im looking for a fish that will clean the bottom of the tank just like a crab or snail. Ideas welcome! Happy Holidays! Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Do you have sand? there's always a sand sifting star. and also the snails that burry themselves and stick there snorkle out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Oh, there are also some fish that will sift through the sand, I had a jawfish once that did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumpersalley Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Do you have sand? there's always a sand sifting star. and also the snails that burry themselves and stick there snorkle out. Im asking for a fish species only. I know the species of inverts that will sift. Thanks though. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gradth Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Diamond goby, dragon goby, both great sand sifters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Gobies in the Genus Valencienna are your best bet. Make sure you get specimens that look "fat" as they tend to take a few days to aclimate to their new home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Diamond Goby, Yellow Head Sleeper Goby. several other gobies. Some Blennies do as well but not to the same extent. When shopping you need to check each goby to be sure as there are several that do not sift the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Diamond Goby' date=' Yellow Head Sleeper Goby. several other gobies. Some Blennies do as well but not to the same extent. When shopping you need to check each goby to be sure as there are several that do not sift the sand.[/quote'] All gobies in the Genus Valencienna sift sand as their primary feeding method. There are several other Genera that sift sand but they don't do it as effectively as Valemciemna sps do. Both the species mentioned above are in the Genus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Gobies in the Genus Valencienna are your best bet. Make sure you get specimens that look "fat" as they tend to take a few days to aclimate to their new home. I think that is a good suggestion. I would also look into a two spot goby (Signigobius biocellatus) and the watchmens (cryptocentrus). IME some of the watchman especially the pink spotted watchman, can get to be quite aggressive once they stake out there territory. JME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Diamond Gobies are fun to watch...love mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy-S Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 dragon gobys are less prone of becoming carpet jerky and except prepared foods quiker then most diamond gobys. my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barelycuda Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I have a diamond goby that does a great job of sifting the sand and eats frozen food also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 My diamond goby doesn't get anywhere near the top of the growout tank (rimless). I.E. I don't think it will end up being carpet jerky. Does a great job of keeping the sand clean and makes a valiant effort to try to keep the frag rack clean too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumpersalley Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 I have a midnight goby (thats what I was told it was by yhe lfs & I cant find him online, hes black with light blue jawstripes) a yellow watchman, a pearly jawfish & a firefish which I am getting rid of. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theJenchild Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Diamond Gobies are fun to watch...love mine! They're great at cleaning sand, but they also make sand storms and re-arrange everything! Mine piled all of the sand from one side of the tank right in the middle and would get really upset if I moved it back. Very effective cleaners though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumpersalley Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 I love my gobies & have gotten rid of all of the other types of fish just to have these. The midnight goby eats the algae off of the rocks, the jawfish makes his house in 2 spots, the watchman & firefish do nothing. Thanks for all of the info! Happy Holidays! Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I've had a couple of watchman gobies but they did not do much sand sifting. I had a couple of diamond gobies that did sift the sand really well, but both were jumpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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