Posted by kryton on November 09, 2002 at 13:49:56:
In Reply to: Dragon Gobies and tank mates? posted by Schmev on September 08, 2002 at 00:06:09:
:I had tried to keep a dragon goby three months ago, but it died in a few weeks. It lived in a 55Gal with a baby pleco, three black tetras and five bala sharks, and four live Amazon sword plants. I get the impression it died from malnutrition (It was thin), but I've watched it eat Wardley shrimp pellets and swim actively.. then one day it seems unusually lazy, and I contacted my LFS for advice, wouldn't take handfed pellets its final day. I had two six inch clay pots, each with a side hole knocked out as a doorway, each always in use by the pleco or goby at all times.
:Now I've done much more homework on the goby (I really fell in love with that guy while he was alive) and am ready to start again.
:Here's my line-up with my current tank:
:2 red swordtails
:1 dwarf gourami
:5 three-inch bala sharks
:3 black tetras
:1 three-inch pleco
:2 weather/dojo
:4 young albino cories
:4 young dark mottled cories
:2 striped raphael catfish
:Live Amazon sword plants, and a third clay pot with a doorway.
:Magnum 350 canister filter system, and a full-spectrum bulb for the plants.
:I also changed the gravel just today to something small, mostly around 1/8-1/16 inch large. My first goby resided with pebbles about 1/4-1/3 inch large, which I belive played a role in his unhappiness, thus the switch, also because I watched my two dojo's try unsuccessfully to borrow into the larger stuff. Once the new stuff settles in a day or so, I'll polish the water and reintroduce my fish from their temporary home in my 20H, and I hope to request my LFS to get me a Dragon Goby. He's so ugly, he's cute :) I am very interested in having one because of its uniqueness, and "shock value" from clueless friends who think he's dangerous when they see his mouth and teeth ;)
:When I look at my setup, I think I've got it all right this time, but I've got a lot more fish than the first time, many bottom feeders which I'm concerned will provide very tough competition. I don't want to put another goby through a needless stress test, I'm not one to watch my pets suffer.
:I don't mind feeding a bit much and doing more frequent syphoning and that, but I curious if the catfish or the pleco will harm it. All my swimmers have proven to be gentle and well mannered, but the bottom feeders I'm worried about when the goby sleeps.
