Sand Sifting Fish
- Thread starter sptfyre51
- Start date
deton8it
Member
Do you have any coral or anemones in there? I ask because that fish picks up a mouthful of sand, swims to the top of the tank and slowly spits it back out threw its gills. This causes sand to rain down on everything below it. It can be detrimental to some species and frustrating to the tank owner.
John
John
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I always loved the golden headed sleeper goby. Yes they swim and dump sand as they go, but that isn't the real problem.
The 30g tank isn't large enough, the sleeper goby gets too large for that size tank. They feed on the fauna in the sand. Once that fauna is gone, if they have not learned eat frozen, they die of starvation. the act of sifting the sand is how they feed, and trying to keep them alive without that fauna, is near impossible. Not to mention you need the fauna in the sand to keep the tank properly balanced.
If you need your sand cleaned and stirred up, try some nassarius snails. They won't deplete the fauna in the sandbed, and they do keep the sand stirred up, which helps to keep it clean.
I always loved the golden headed sleeper goby. Yes they swim and dump sand as they go, but that isn't the real problem.
The 30g tank isn't large enough, the sleeper goby gets too large for that size tank. They feed on the fauna in the sand. Once that fauna is gone, if they have not learned eat frozen, they die of starvation. the act of sifting the sand is how they feed, and trying to keep them alive without that fauna, is near impossible. Not to mention you need the fauna in the sand to keep the tank properly balanced.
If you need your sand cleaned and stirred up, try some nassarius snails. They won't deplete the fauna in the sandbed, and they do keep the sand stirred up, which helps to keep it clean.
mr. limpid
Active Member
That fish will do fine in your tank. Live sand in a bag vs Florida live sand is different, Florida sand has live fauna were the bag stuff does not. This what the gobie is sifting for, you'll need to hide food in the sand for him to find. Or if your lucky he may take food from the water column.
jay0705
Well-Known Member
Tank size is an interesting topic relating to fish. Some fish get too big for smaller tanks its that simple. Where it gets confusing is when your talking about a fish that it's size isn't what dictates the tank size its the food choice. People say mandrins can't be kept in small tanks due to there need for lots of copepods to feed on. The sleeper goby is similar. They need food in the sand. Hence bigger tank more food. But if your willing to supplement the fauna ie buying live copepods/ amphipods. Seeding the tank and have a well stocked refriume you'll prob b fine
mr. limpid
Active Member
For a 30gal tank you are limited on fish that will work. The most enjoyable fish I kept in 30 gal tank were dwarf angels and wrasses, both swam around a lot. Angels are aways pecking at the rocks and don't care about tank mates. Wrasses swim very fast and like to dart threw holes and cracks in rocks.
mr. limpid
Active Member
You are correct, I kept those back in the day when LFS told you a tang would go in a 55 gal tank. I guess the smallest tank for s few dwarfs is a 55. Sorry about getting your hopes up.