Goby and Blenny Question

[jba6511]

If gobies and blennys sift sanding, meaning they eat the benefical organisms in the sand, depleting the sand bed, why are they so popular? Would having a blenny or goby cause the sand bed to crash? Also, would they starve to death slowly like a sand sifting star after they have depleted the bed if this is their primary source of food? Can someone please explain the benefits of the live sand and the effect these two fish have on the tank when using live sand?

 

[garnet13aj]

My guess (note the uncertainty) would be that they don't eat all of the bacteria, just some, so they leave plenty to provide natural filtering for the tank...

 

[texanangel]

There are a lot of different gobies and blennies, however one thought on the sand-sifting gobies and the sand loving blennies:
-Once they discover flake/brine/mysis food, they will generally feast primarily on that. I've seen it happen with lawnmower blennies, several scooter blennies, and ghost sleeper gobies.

 

[jba6511]

so taking home a sand loving goby or blenny and then feeding mysis or flake will keep them from depleting the sand bed? I really want something that will keep my sand nice and white without depleting the beneficial organisms and is more fun to watch than a nas. snail. Anyone with a blenny or goby want to weigh in?

 

[dapak83]

Originally Posted by jba6511
so taking home a sand loving goby or blenny and then feeding mysis or flake will keep them from depleting the sand bed? I really want something that will keep my sand nice and white without depleting the beneficial organisms and is more fun to watch than a nas. snail. Anyone with a blenny or goby want to weigh in?
Me tooooo! :jumping:

 

[texanangel]

I've got both, and they both eat flake/brine food. Enough that a scooter blenny gets along fine, he eats brine shrimp too.

 

[jba6511]

Originally Posted by texanangel
I've got both, and they both eat flake/brine food. Enough that a scooter blenny gets along fine, he eats brine shrimp too.
so is he a problem with sifting the sand? Does he does this anymore or is he only eating the brine/flake and stirring up the sand as he moves?

 

[jba6511]

anyone? I know some of you guys have blenny/gobies

 

[texanangel]

The goby still makes little sand burrows, but not much, and he spits out the sand instead of blowing it out his gills. I don't think he's a problem for the live sand, but I got lucky with ones that adore prepared food.

 

[pkreker]

I have a scooter blenny who also seems very content to eat the foods that I am offering. But I've also been told that they need the copepods to thrive. I've been really worried about my little guy because of this.
Has anyone had blennies to live long term on frozen mysis shrimp and flake?
I do have live rock in the tank, but it's still a young tank, and I was misinformed when I got this little guy, so I've been keeping a very close eye on his eating habits.
Kim