Fish Suggestion
 

I love sand dwelling fish, but I cannot keep them because my main display tank is a BB tank, so I am now in the planning process of plumbing up another tank into my current setup. So far, I plan on putting a 4-5 inch sand bed in a 15 gallon tank (24"x12"x12"), and plant it with macro algae and move my current refugium setup out of my sump and into this tank. Tank will be lit with a 55watt PC setup, and will have a cover (glass, or eggcrate at the least).

Of the choices in the poll, which would you pick and why?

Thanks!
-Rich

I like jawfish, but I think you may need a deeper substrate, like 5", 6" or more even, so that might not be practical. They're also jumpers, I hear they need to be able to see 360 degrees around their burrow for them to feel comfortable.

A goby/pistol shrimp combo would make an absolutely fascinating display. That one gets a close second I think, from me.

I too like the jawfish. There's one at my lfs in their display tank and he is so cool!

I like goby pistol shrimp, I had a nice couple and it was such a pleasure to watch them interact. My personal favorite is the Tangaroa goby with any pistol shrimp. That being said I've never kept jaw fish so I can't comment on them.

Doug

Yellow Watchmen of course :mrgreen:

Dragon Goby, what can I say, mine is my favorite fish still :biggrin: He has staring contests with the cats and can hold his own. He eats out of my hand and is always veiwable.

I have a goldenhead sleeper thats keeps the sandbed in mint condition :cool:

I like the goby/shrimp pair. I have a pink spotted goby and a pistol shrimp in my reef tank. It is so neat to be able to watch such a pairing of creatures and see how they live together. Just as rewarding as a clown/anemone pair in my opinion. My shrimp has tunnels dug from one end of the tank to the other. I've read that they like a mix of sand and small rubble to dig in. They use the rubble to barricade the tunnel entrances. I have a few pounds of crushed coral mixed in with my sandbed, and the pistol shrimp seems to really like it.

That's a good idea Ed, I was thinking about some crushed shell but wasn't sure how it would go, but for a goby/shrimp it would be cool.

Doug

reply
 

I voted pistol/goby combo, there is nothing cooler than watching symbiosis in action IMO.

I love my Yellow headed/pearly jawfish. They've already paired up & are living together in the same cave/tunnel. They prefer a bit of sand (not sugar fine) mixed into coarse coral gravel & bits of small shells & rubble for building. Mainly their jumping tendencies are during the initial break-in period before they have their cave built.

My second choice would also be a pistol shrimp/goby pairing.

Gobies - stay away from cute but possibly non-reef-safe clown gobies. Tank-raised Neon gobies are nice & cleaners too (but with a short 1 yr life-span).

Anthony

Whatever choice you make I'm sure you'll get great pleasure out of these little guys.