Diamondback Goby new disappeared

[ziggy_impy]

I recently got a diamondback goby. The first day i got it, it sifted through the sand just like it was doing on the store. the next day i got up and hes gone. i have not seen it for 4 days now. i was wondering if they hide when they are new to a tank, or did it die under a rock or something? i was just concerned that i have not seen it. thanks

 

[reefiness]

Yes, Diamondback Gobies do indeed hide. These actually create a burrow in the sand which they will sleep in at night as well as go to whenever they feel threatened. Although 4 days does sound a little long to me, there could be a possibility that the fish is still acclimating and may be in his burrow often. Also when I had first gotten my Diamondback, I remember as I would walk over, he would dart back to his burrow probably feeling the vibrations of my foot steps, so there is also a possibility that this is the case.

 

[oniel21]

Do a search on here for Diamond Gobies. You'll find that this is common for them. Give him some time, maybe a week or two. If you don't see him then, maybe it's time to worry. Have you been testing your water since you got him?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by ziggy_impy
I recently got a diamondback goby. The first day i got it, it sifted through the sand just like it was doing on the store. the next day i got up and hes gone. i have not seen it for 4 days now. i was wondering if they hide when they are new to a tank, or did it die under a rock or something? i was just concerned that i have not seen it. thanks
Welcome to the boards! Have you checked your floor? They are well known jumpers. I sincerely hope that he didn't jump, but look around. They do hide though.

 

[ziggy_impy]

thank you everyone for your help! i will have to check behind the tank but i sure hope he's not there! i tested mt water and everything seems alright.

 

[reefer545]

Many times a diamond goby will make his layer facing the back of the tank or out of sight under the rockwork, side of a tank, etc. They do tend to stay in there for long periods too. I lucked out and mine made his layer front and center. I can even see his eyes peering out at night, but for many their goby is out of sight. I bet it has just made a layer out of sight. Keep an eye out for it though. Good luck.

 

[miaheatlvr]

When I fist dropped in my Diamond Goby, I didnt see him for 10 days...I thought he died and was absorbed by my cleaning crew.. but alas 10 days later he made his appearance..

 

[scotts]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
Welcome to the boards! Have you checked your floor? They are well known jumpers. I sincerely hope that he didn't jump, but look around. They do hide though.
This is exactly what I was going to say. Also if you have other pets like cats or dogs, you may never know what happened. I only found half of my diamond goby when I stepped on it.
I hope yours is just hiding.
Scott

 

[teresaq]

I found mine under the kitchen table in the next room. I think the cats played with it.

 

[halcyon_diver]

check your overflow.and your sump..found my DG missing one day and searched for hours...then i looked in the over flow and there he was...looking up at me..waving!!
hope ya find him

 

[ziggy_impy]

I found him dried up behind my tank i now am making a hood for my tank with a top. once finished i plan on getting a new goby, cuz that little guy was so cool for the time i had him! thanks all.

 

[big]

Originally Posted by ziggy_impy
I found him dried up behind my tank i now am making a hood for my tank with a top. once finished i plan on getting a new goby, cuz that little guy was so cool for the time i had him! thanks all.

Ohhh so sorry!

WELCOME TO THE BOARDS TOO!
But as to having a "Rotor Tiller" fish, eggcrate the tank, plan on him eating all you pods and rearranging all the substrate on a regular basis. Also any new frag in his area seems to get covered up quickly!. I KNOW THAT IS WHAT HE IS THING IN THIS SHOT.," is he looking at me, can I bury it yet??"

.. Here is my Rotor tiller showing his "tiller tines" just to remember your little guy by! Heck this one is now about 6 or 7 inches long!!..............Warren

 

[drewchyi]

i havent seen mine for 3 weeks now and i only have a 34 gallon cube. I acclimated him for 3 hours, placed him in my tank and left for work....never saw him again. he was such a pretty fish too.

 

[sepulatian]

I found mine on the floor, cats had rolled him around a bit. He was in a tank with one fish and no need to jump. He had his own caves and was not harassed at all, but he jumped through a very small opening in the back of the tank. RIP Mr. Goby!

 

[leftyblite]

Just got mine about 3 days ago. Haven't seen him since. The only way I know it is still around is the sand near the back of the tank appears to be getting higher in certain areas every day. I figure he is just making some caves for himself to feel comfortable.

 

[leftyblite]

Also I dropped a couple of mysis shrimp near the piles and about an hour later they have mysteriously disappeared.

 

[sepulatian]

My goby spent a month and a half in QT. When he went into the display he was not shy. He dug his cave under a rock that already had a cave shape to it. He dug several others. He was always the first out for food. He was even out before Sir. Quizz! That is saying something. Then I didn't see him for a few days. I found him on the floor all rolled around, I have all wood floors. The cats played with him. He must have jumped when I was not home. I saw him very active and eager to eat, then he was nowhere to be found. No ryme or reason for it. He just jumped.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
Also I dropped a couple of mysis shrimp near the piles and about an hour later they have mysteriously disappeared.
I sure hope that he is under there, but it could be your inverts eating it. The flow doesn't blow it away? Mysis is very light.

 

[t316]

Good thread. I really want this fish, but don't like what I'm finding out about him. Is there a close relative, another type of goby, that sifts the sand in a similar manner, but doesn't cause so many problems?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by T316
Good thread. I really want this fish, but don't like what I'm finding out about him. Is there a close relative, another type of goby, that sifts the sand in a similar manner, but doesn't cause so many problems?
You don't want a sand sifting goby anyway. They eat all of the microfauna in your sand. They basically strip it down to dead (live in bacteria)sand. Buy inverts that will just eat detris.