Hector's Goby with Open Brain Coral?

BlueAbyss · #1 08-10-2009, 06:18 AM

I think I may have blundered...

I bought a Hector's Goby because I like them, but I just realized that I have also bought an Open Brain Coral, which will need to sit on the sandbed.

Does anyone have any experience with mixing this fish with this coral, and how well they coexist?

Myka · #2 08-10-2009, 01:12 PM

Mine coexisted with no issues. Most corals have the ability to produce a mucous that helps to shed the sand unles their shape inhibits it. Your brain should be placed at a bit of an angle so that sand can't settle in the bottom of it.

BlueAbyss · #3 08-10-2009, 03:25 PM

Sounds good, thanks Myka.

Myka · #4 08-11-2009, 01:42 AM

A thought on Hector's Gobies too if you don't mind...most won't eat prepared foods, and tend to starve to death in tanks smaller than about 40-60 gallons. They are big eaters. If you don't have enough natural foods for it (algae mostly) maybe try buying some macros like Halimenia or something like that to try feeding it?

BlueAbyss · #5 08-11-2009, 05:30 AM

Hmm... I thought these guys were mostly sand sifters? Though I did read somewhere that they are algae eaters, I watched him sift sand in the store and was told by others that they don't eat algae.

Luckily, if this is the case, my tank has a fair amount of algae of different kinds... I hope he'll be alright, either way. I really like these little guys and wouldn't want him to perish for my stupidity.

Myka · #6 08-13-2009, 03:09 AM

They are eating all sorts of stuff while they sift, much of it being algae. They also spend a lot of time picking at the rocks for algae. Algae makes up the better part of their diet. My Hector's Goby did well in my 33 while the tank had some different algae growing while I was working out of province, but once I was around enough to do regular maintenance (water changes) he perished along with the algae.