Yasha Haze Goby Questions...concerns

[Djbetterly]

I picked up a yasha haze goby and a pistol shrimp a few days ago. All seemed good until today. The goby is hanging out vertical towards the top of the tank. Looks like he may be being bullied a bit by my clowns. Every time he try's to swim they chase him, and his fins look a bit beat up. Have you heard of this? I'm concerned, looks like he is very unhappy and ready to jump at any minute. I put food in the tank and he didn't eat today either.

Any thoughts? Help?

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I would get a breeder container to put him in until he recovers a bit. Maybe once he realizes they can't get to him while he's in there he'll relax enough to eat. Then place him back where the pistol is, maybe second time will be a better situation.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

I had the same issue and he even ended up in my overflow a few times and it was about a month or so after I thought he died and became hermit food that I noticed he had found the pistol shrimp and was burrowing in a hole. Whine some rocks !

 

[piranhapat]

Goby should stay with pistol shrimp under a rock where pistol makes a home. Pistol likes sand to make a hills and cave. My guys stay together. Most of time they hiding until feeding time. Your goby needs to find a home or will jump out...Cover the tank. If you can maybe set a small 10 gallon for them...My was very small when I got my.

 

[Imbarrie]

Do they know each other are in the tank?
What kind of pistol shrimp? Some combinations are more likely to pair than others.

When I introduced my antennae goby and tiger pistol they immediately bonded and have never been apart. They were introduced when I placed one right next to the other, they have to know each other is there. Catch the goby, let it calm down and then release it right by the entrance to where the shrimp is.
Or you can get a piece of PVC, maybe 1" dia, and cap one end. Encourage the goby to go inside and move it to the rock where the shrimp lives. They should pair up.

 

[kimilkwon]

I had this same pair and should be inside the hole with the pistol shrimp. Depends on what kind also. They are naturally bonded with candy cane? (randalls) pistol shrimp i believe.

My clowns never bothered with him since he was missing for 2 weeks and only coming out for food.

also could with a tiger but this one is natural with a watchman goby.

 

[Djbetterly]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I have the goby in a breeder tank for right now. I want to make sure he gets back to eating first. I put a small piece of pvc in there as well, I'm mostly concerned with him eating at this point.

I bought the two together, yasha and pistol, but they were not paired. Most people I spoke with assured me they would eventually find each other.

Hopefully this little trick works. This is the pair I've been in search of for a long time. Definitely a fish with some personality.

 

[Imbarrie]

Let me know how it is healing. I was given an antenna goby the other day from a LFS that was beat up pretty badly.
Wondering how hearty these are.

 

[Djbetterly]

Well the little guy escaped the breeder net. I went to try and catch him to place him closer to the pistol shrimp and I got lucky and chased him right into the hole under the rocks where the pistol is. Hopefully he'll be happy now. Still can't tell if he's eating or not.

Does anyone know what time of day is best for them to eat? Are they likely to eat at a certain time? Probably a stupid question...

Either way, I'll be keeping an eye on him. Thankfully the area is just large enough that I can shine a flashlight in the hole and see him.

 

[Imbarrie]

Put some small meaty food right inside the openning. I feed everyone as the lights go down.

 

[Djbetterly]

Well the goby moved away from the shrimp, still can't tell if he's eating or not though.

 

[piranhapat]

I drop brine shrimp when the lights when out and I saw what ever the current went by their hole he got a little braver and started to eat. Each day he got more and more braver. But still will stay close to his home. He will eat......

 

[Djbetterly]

I fed this morning when the lights were pretty low still. As soon as the other fish saw that food was coming, he ventured out for a bit, then went back under a rock. Starting to feel better now...

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I fed this morning when the lights were pretty low still. As soon as the other fish saw that food was coming, he ventured out for a bit, then went back under a rock. Starting to feel better now...

Glad to hear he's starting to come around

 

[masterswimmer]

I fed this morning when the lights were pretty low still. As soon as the other fish saw that food was coming, he ventured out for a bit, then went back under a rock. Starting to feel better now...

Very glad to hear things could be turning. Keep up the good work.

Russ

 

[Djbetterly]

Thank you everyone for your help. I picked up some frozen mysis shrimp today and only fed about 2cc's of mixed water and shrimp, the goby took after that stuff right away! Made me very happy.

I'll keep that up for a while just to get him comfy. Ultimately I need him to eat dry food though. When I purchased him I watched them feed him and he ate dry food no problem. Any tips? I don't mind feeding mysis, I only worry because when I travel I'm going to have the tank on an autofeeder so I want to make sure that I have dry food as an option.

By the way, anyone need a breeder net? I ordered one online, but couldn't wait so I ran to petco and picked one up. Pay for postage and I'll send it to you.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

If you still have him isolated nw that hes eating frozen happily start feeding dry, I think he'll catch on once he gets pretty hungry. If hes re introduced to your display already I think he'll follow the other fishes lead when he sees it's food.

Best of luck. One hurdle accomplished- one more to go.

 

[piranhapat]

Next feeding throw some dry food. If it goes by him he'll eat it....

 

[Djbetterly]

Well the yashi is doing well, he's eating and getting a bit more brave about coming out even further to grab pieces of food. The splendid dottyback still gives him a run for his money though when they get too close to each other. The yashi still hasn't paired with the pistol shrimp though which is a bit of a bummer. The shrimp is buried deep in the rocks and I can only see his little antennae, so I'm not sure if they can't find each other or if the shrimp just isn't very welcoming. I may never know. I don't want to try and relocate the yashi for fear of stressing him out again and its almost impossible to get that shrimp to come out so I may just leave them both alone, thoughts?

Okay, this is turning into a complete run-on post now. Thank you guys!

 

[piranhapat]

I would leave it alone. If things don't get better. May be in a month rearrange rocks. Or scenic in the tank...