New Fish

[kparton]

I added a new fish to my 50G setup this weekend, an orangespotted shrimp Goby. He's a cute little guy, very small now, so I'm hoping he'll grow well in my tank. I have a pistol shrimp that I rarely see, so i'm hoping they might pair up and live in the same burrow, but we'll see.

I now have the following in my tank:

2 Saddleback Clowns (mated pair, one has grown much larger and is the female)
1 Sixline wrasse (bought also as a small guy, but he's grown some)
Orangespotted shrimp Goby
2 Serpent stars
Assorted snails (turbo, nassarius, bumblebee)
1 peppermint shrimp (started with 3)
1 Fire Shrimp (blood red, whatever they call it)
a few red legged hermits.

Thus far, everything gets along fine, the clowns kind of rule the open water, the sixline owns the rock and I'm hoping the Goby will live happily on the sand surface.

 

[Len]

Fishbase.org

 

[kparton]

And he's gone.

I came home today to find my new fish dry on the carpet. I had ready they were in danger of jumping the first few days, but this is my first jumper and my first lost fish since I restarted the tank. I'm really disappointed and feel bad I caused him to die. I don't know if I'll try anyhing new for a while.

 

[cdeakle]

1 word, plexi!!!

make a plexi/acrylic top!

case solved

 

[Len]

Ya, these guys are jumpers as are most gobies. Sorry to hear about your loss.

I recommend that people who have canopies seal up the rear of the canopy with screen mesh (same stuff used for screen doors, available at all hardware stores). If you have an open-top tank with no canopy, you might have to go with either acrylic, glass, or "egg crate" top.

 

[Anonymous]

Ugh! I'm sorry for your loss, kparton!

Len,

I love that pic. Reminds me of two youths hanging out, looking for trouble on a street corner somewhere!

Chris

 

[kparton]

Due to heat adjustment problems, I did not put any type of top on the tank. Maybe I'll just stay away from the gobies and other jumpers from now on.

 

[Len]

So you're using a pendant-style lighting with an open-top aquarium? That definitely makes it tougher to seal without diminishing water/air gas exchange or without increasing temp.

 

[kparton]

Yep, I'm using pendants over the tank. As far as maintenance, it's much easier than the hood or canopy options.

Anyone have any recommendations for other fish to keep? I have 90lbs live rock and the tank's been up for 7 months now.