yellow clown goby and sps

Diana · #1 10-23-2008, 04:48 PM

I have a 4 year old pair of green clowns and have had yellow and brown clowns in the past and never saw them nipping SPS. That being said, I only have Monti caps, digitata, and have had birdsnest in the past as well. No millis or acros. I'm not suprised that they nip SPS, but it would be suprising to me if they killed the colony they host in.

-Diana

Whatigot · #2 10-23-2008, 05:15 PM

green and yellows are almost different species in their behaviour IMO...
The yellows are bold and aggressive, the greens are meek and usually the victim of aggression.

I have tried both, even together in my early days of reefing and admittably, tried a few of the 7 dollar fishes and always found the greens were dominated by the yellows.

I have never seen a green nip at polyps, but again, my current yellow one has never been seen eating anything BUT sps polyps.

Only my observations, no labratory scientist here....

Whatigot · #3 10-23-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana

I have a 4 year old pair of green clowns and have had yellow and brown clowns in the past and never saw them nipping SPS. That being said, I only have Monti caps, digitata, and have had birdsnest in the past as well. No millis or acros. I'm not suprised that they nip SPS, but it would be suprising to me if they killed the colony they host in.

-Diana

come to think of it, it's only been acros and millis that I have seen them nip at...
hmmmmm

Diana · #4 10-24-2008, 04:12 AM

Interesting too, because my two green clowns have always dominated over any yellow I put in the tank. The yellows for me never seemed to last very long, with the greens being very bold and aggressive (especially with each other). Very strange!

Drock169 · #5 10-24-2008, 05:13 AM

SPS polyp nipping is common. Diana, havent you noticed in the display tank where the clown goby pair cleared off an area to lay eggs

Diana · #6 10-24-2008, 06:06 AM

Noooo I did not! No one informed me of such coolness. Any eggs yet? I guess I will have to pay more attention to that tank hehe.

Whatigot · #7 10-24-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana

Interesting too, because my two green clowns have always dominated over any yellow I put in the tank. The yellows for me never seemed to last very long, with the greens being very bold and aggressive (especially with each other). Very strange!

The yellows are known for being bolder but not as hardy.
The green are known as being hardy, but shy.
aggression is probably up to the individual fish and what it feels like it's territory is.
at least in my reading and experience.

I have spent a lot of time watching these guys in several tanks over the years, but i can only attest to the individuals I kept.
Never seen them in nature...

untamed · #8 10-24-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whatigot

The yellows are known for being bolder but not as hardy.
The green are known as being hardy, but shy.
aggression is probably up to the individual fish and what it feels like it's territory is.
at least in my reading and experience.

I have spent a lot of time watching these guys in several tanks over the years, but i can only attest to the individuals I kept.
Never seen them in nature...

That explains something to me.

Sing with me, the Lookdown smarties song........"when you eat your gobies do you eat the yellow one's first....?!"

Chaloupa · #9 10-24-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Sing with me, the Lookdown smarties song........"when you eat your gobies do you eat the yellow one's first....?!"

LMAO

tgoeujon · #10 10-31-2008, 03:50 AM

theyve been relocated to the 55 gallon. its kinda wierd, in the 10 gallon they picked at the sps and in the larger tank with more sps they dont cause any problems. they just chill in the sun polyps or candy canes.