How to get Diamond/Sleeper Gobies to Eat?

[Reeferbadness]

I've been in the hobby for about 5 years and have 2 x 200g tanks. I've always like to have either Goby (Diamond or Sleeper) in a tank to help keep the sand clean. It's ok that they move a ton around - i'd rather have that then dirty or worse, algae infested sand bed. My question is - how to get these guys to eat. Some naturally will eat some mysis or pellets when you add so much that the other voracious eaters (tangs, angels, fox face, etc) don't eat right away. But that's pretty wasteful and can lead to spikes in Phos/Nitrates. I've tried putting pellets in a turkey baster - with a little more targeted success, but some won't eat pellets or mysis, even when you target this way. In the end, usually after about 6 months, i've lost many a Goby - most likely to them starving to death. I'd love to hear success stores and how / what you get your engineer goby's to eat.

 

[kvansloo]

Amphipods, copepods, krill, mysis shrimp, and brine shrimp they like live foods.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

My diamond goes after what ever is floating or suspended in the water when I feed. The pumps are off for 5 minutes during feeding time. He's a pig. lol

 

[Reeferbadness]

My diamond goes after what ever is floating or suspended in the water when I feed. The pumps are off for 5 minutes during feeding time. He's a pig. lol

i've had one like that .... i think i may have sucked him out during a water change a couple of years ago (duh!) .... all others (and there have been many) are very picky eaters and skittish. Some hide when i get then and i never see them again. Some are more visible... but don't eat. A couple have eaten .. when i take extreme measures..... but somehow disappear eventually .....

 

[bradreef]

I shot frozen brine in his cave. Then eventually he learned when the flow stops, it's food time and he goes to his spot. After a bit he goes after the food now

 

[Reeferbadness]

I shot frozen brine in his cave. Then eventually he learned when the flow stops, it's food time and he goes to his spot. After a bit he goes after the food now

Ya, i've tried that with some success. My current sleeper goby doesn't seem interested. Curiosly, he is now about 2 months old and seems pretty fat and healthy - i try to make sure some pellets fall into the sand bed where i know he thoroughly goes through and get's some nutrition. Lost another Sleeper Goby in my other tank - never really came out to eat or even move sand around. One of many lost due to this. Will give it another go with either a sleeper or diamond goby. It's kind of like fish roulette with these fish - and the odds are stacked in the not going to eat and will die within a few weeks favor.