Manderin Goby

[Mackman]

Hello all!

I recieved this goby from a friends tank because it was being picked on by another goby, it ran away from the bully and got into her overflow! it had been in the overflow for 3 to 4 weeks.
Since this goby was in the overflow for several weeks dont you think its eating foods that fall into the overflows? if not i am not sure i have a pod population to support him?? what can i do to make sure he lives? the first day in my tank you didnt see him, now he comes right up to the glass and doesnt even try to hide when you get close to the tank, he has great color!

Please help as i would like to keep him alive.

Thanks

Mack

PH 8.0.
Alk 3.5.
Calcium 420.
Salinity 1.025.
amonia 0.
nitrite 0.
nitrate 5.
120gal tank.
30gal sump seperate light sch then tank with macro algae.
heater/skimmer.
60lbs base 60lbs live rock.
5lbs live sand.
54 watt actinic 54 watts 10k T5. (lighted 11 hours)
Mag 24 pumping into two returns.
Moon light.

Occupants;
1 ocellirus clown (sp)
2 green cromis
Manderin goby
about 20 snails and 5 blue leg hermits.

[Phish]

Man, if you 'think' that you dont have enough 'pods, you DONT have enough... I dont know how to stimulate 'pod growth, but I can only say cross your fingers and try to feed it every thing you can, brine shrimp, flake watever you got...

[Telco Guy]

Seems to me that Refugiums are a great place for pods to grow and multiply. You describe one in your tank description. Is there LS and LR in your sump/refugium? How long has your tank been up and running?

[Fishmonger]

I've had great luck with my gobies introducing pods to the tank, they are a nuisance in the saltwater research tanks at the univeristy where they multiply like mad, i can't figure out why there are so so many of them in tanks that have been set up for a short time, but i just screen them out bring them home and my blenny and goby goes nuts, i find that they gather in areas with low to no current, but my blenny will not eat anything that he can't chase down, its a shame there is no alternative.

[NB2SB]

I Know This Is A Stupid Question But I Am New To Salt Watwe. What Are Pods?

[Fishmonger]

Pods or copepods come in all different shapes and sizes , they could be considered the base of oceanic ecosystems as they are food for larvae before metamorphsis and many different types of blennies and dragonets.

[NB2SB]

Do The yGrow By Them Selves Or Do You buy One And It Spreads

[Telco Guy]

Provided you have good water quality and LR/LS they will reproduce on their own. They come in on the LR (Live Rock) and LS (Live Sand).

[NB2SB]

So I Over Time They Will Devolop?

[Telco Guy]

Yes, as long as the LR/LS was good and the water conditions remain good.

[NB2SB]

Do I Have To Wait Till I See Pods Before i Get ANY TYPE OF GOBY Or Just The Manderian Goby And Blennies

[Telco Guy]

Depends on the type. Most Dragonets (Scooter blennies, Mandarins, etc.) only eat pods although some will take frozen or fresh foods. There are others that are known as sand sifters like the Rainfordi Goby (http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefimages/page.cgi?list=Gobies&slide=100.jpg), but most of these will also eat bits of food that sinks to the bottom.

The best thing to do would be to find something you like and then research it's eating habits to see if your tank will support it.

[NB2SB]

The Rainfordi Is Really Nice But I've Never Seen That At The LFS Are They Rare?

[Telco Guy]

No. I just picked one up at my LFX for $18. I had to ask them to get some in for me. They got 4 or 5 in and I wasn't ready and they sold them all and got 4 more, so I wouldn't think they are rare.

[NB2SB]

I've Never Seen Them Before

[Telco Guy]

Ask your LFS about them. You can also find them on line if you want to try that.

[NB2SB]

I Rather Not Buy Livestock Onl;ine Unless You Have A Good Site Because Shipping Prices Are Crazy