I can certainly support it by continuing to do what I'm doing: injecting the food into the sand. I'm hoping I don't have to do it forever, though. Once the new tank is set up I'll be investigating ways to populate the sandbed for him. Though I will continue to give him his "shrimp cocktail."
I didn't treat him for internal parasites, however. When I do the tank switch he'll be treated before moving to the new display tank. I suspect this is what will kill him: if I don't treat him.
The tank is peaceful, and he doesn't seem agitated or nervous. Of course, I have nothing to compare his behavior to so I may not know what I'm looking at.
I am going to have to find someone to pop into the house a couple of times, as we have a rabbit and plants that will also need care while we're away.
How long did your gobies live? I desperately want a Mandarin, and now I'm thinking that maybe I can do it: if I can care for the goby as long as you did.
If this one does well I may look for a partner for him, but that is the only reason I would ever purchase another one. I have read a couple of anecdotal stories online where a couple of people have been successful with them for a year+, but they are very much the minority.
I had researched "sand sifting gobies" in general, but I hadn't encountered this species in my research. I figured he had to be reasonably similar to the others. A quick "google" on my BlackBerry at the store didn't raise any red flags, so I went ahead with the purchase. Then when I did my in depth research at home while acclimating him, I learned about my mistake.