Sleeper Banded Goby looking a little thin.

worrballer

Member
Hey guys I just purchased a sleeper banded goby a few weeks ago because my fiancee thought he was cute lol.
He looked great at the store fat and happy, I saw him eating some myside (sp) so I thought he'd be great for the tank. But now he looks so skinny! I'm worried I'll have to break the news to my fiancee someday that he past into the great beyond.
I've been feeding him (and everyone esle) some frozen foods (the saltwater mulit-pack from San Francisco Bay Brand: marine cuisine, emerald entree, omega-3 brine shrimp and the useless squid) and even some formula 2 marine pellets. He looks so unhealthy while my other fish get fat and happy.
What is going on with him and what can I do to get him plumped up and healthy looking?
 

poniegirl

Active Member
He is a carnivore and brine shrimp alone will starve him. If he is smaller, give him thawed frozen mysis shrimp. If he is larger, you may even try some bits of thawed frozen silverside.
 

poniegirl

Active Member
Originally Posted by WorrBaller
Okay thanks, he's about 3 1/2 in. and I've got some silvers in my freezer, i'll give that a try.
That is a good sized goby.
What are the tankmates?
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by WorrBaller
Devil damsel, 2 1/2 in Niger, tomato clown, black urchin, cleaning crew
Wow, that is a tough crowd. Is he getting a chance to eat?
 

dogstar

Active Member
Most sleeper/sand sifter type gobies do starve in a typical home aquarium. They need to feed from healthy, large, reproduceing, live sand beds full of a variety of life. This provides them with needed nutriants that, in most cases, can not be provided by introduced foods.....
 

worrballer

Member
I'm pretty sure he is. Although he obviously doesn't attack the food like the rest of the guys. I've been putting some marine 2 pellets at night hoping he would find some left in the morning.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
He definately looks rough. Can you acclimate him into a qt and try feeding him? Was he eating prepared foods at the LFS? How deep and how old is your sand bed?
 

worrballer

Member
No unfortunately I don't have a qt, ya I saw him gobble up mysis in the tank. My sand is two years old with two moves about 6 months apart, and its about 2 in deep.
 
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