Need advice from Tiger Pistol /Diamond Goby Gray Beards

[zcapogna]

Gray Beards (gender neutral of course), need advice! BLUF: I've lost a few tiger pistol shrimp and diamond gobies. I think anomalies and want to try again. Need assurance or caution.

To begin; "what happened was..." 75 gallon, ~3-4" sand bed, plenty of rock (see tank pict) and all is well. Had diamond goby for about 7 mos and was introduced to idea of pistols at LFS. A quick Google search...and no way. But was told Tiger's don't bother fish and are fun to watch...Bob the Builders of the tank. So took the plunge. And no issues.

Every once and a while, I'll blow the sand around the tank to "reset levels" and keep clean. My pistol had grown to about 3 inch & beautiful. Peaceful, no problems with fish (they' actually visit him...weird). My sand blowing would partially (or completely) fill in his dens, he would dig them back out. And then he didn't. Haven't seen him (or heard him) in 3 mos.

Still no sign of Tiger and then Goby 'completely' disappeared. Should at least be an eaten body...but gone. (of note; lid completely closed off so no flying fish. learned that the hard way...goby jerky).

Got impatient, so picked up a pair of diamond gobies (opportunity) and a single tiger pistol. All was well. Please stay with me...

Was splitting a few zoa colonies (successful mission), and the next morning noticed a small frag fell off its spot and while reaching my fat hand in the tank, knocked a rock loose which led to 3 hours of recreating my colosseum. Did not touch base rock so didn't disturb tiger and wasn't paying attention to gobies (they'd been hanging out with each other since I brought them home). Welp, next morning no gobies...no tiger. What the heck. Gave it a weak. What the heck. So moved some sand from front and poked around. Nothing. Finally used my pump and blew sand from under the rocks in front...out come two dead (were buried) uneaten gobies. Buried side by side, the way they hung out. And, no matter how much I blow out the front, no tigers...dead or in pieces.

And that's it. Looking for experienced thoughts: did I kill the tiger/s by blowing sand into their dens? Did I scare the heck out of the gobies and they buried/killed themselves? With burrowing critters do you leave the sand alone? Any advice before I go get another tiger/goby pair?

I truly want to believe the 2 tigers will come out one day holding claws but doubtful. Absolutely no sign (or sounds) of them.

Pictures included. Thx for anyone that took the time to read my blabber
Zac

 

[zcapogna]

Is this forum not used anymore? Should this question be posted in another forum to access the experienced aquarist? Really want some advice before going after new tiger and goby.

 

[andy28115]

It’s very active, just not a “hot” topic. no real way to tell what happened to your inhabitants. I would suggest starting with new gobies and shrimp.

 

[Fritz05]

It is impossible to determine what happened to your animals. I do want to mention that diamond gobies do not pair up with pistol shrimp, but I assume you knew that.

 

[littlefoxx]

My theory is you blowing the sand bed around released bacteria into the tank possibly killing the gobies. Pistol is probably still alive. One thing with these pairs is that they will disappear and you will think them dead. My goby was MIA over a year. Same with the shrimp. I could hear the popping of the shrimp so thats how I knew he was alive. Do you hear that at all? If you want to try again get another goby and wait. If the shrimp is in there they will find each other. They like to make really REALLY deep burrows (like the deepest part where you find draugr since you referenced Skyrim . They are reclusive fish, I wouldnt mess with them too much. Some get lucky with theirs that build their burrow where they can see others where you wont really ever see them. Ive just let them be and let them be happy and dont try to force them to be where you can see them!

 

[zcapogna]

It’s very active, just not a “hot” topic. no real way to tell what happened to your inhabitants. I would suggest starting with new gobies and shrimp.

my question, can pistols and gobies dig their way out if buried during maintenance or once in the tank, do we need to stay away from their dens

 

[andy28115]

my question, can pistols and gobies dig their way out if buried during maintenance or once in the tank, do we need to stay away from their dens

I would avoid the dens, in theory the pistols do most of the digging and the goby once paired watches out. That’s the way my pair was anyway.

 

[zcapogna]

It is impossible to determine what happened to your animals. I do want to mention that diamond gobies do not pair up with pistol shrimp, but I assume you knew that.

Yikes! I didn't know that. What gobies pair with pistols? It's been months and the tank is healthy. No sign of the pistols.

 

[zcapogna]

My theory is you blowing the sand bed around released bacteria into the tank possibly killing the gobies. Pistol is probably still alive. One thing with these pairs is that they will disappear and you will think them dead. My goby was MIA over a year. Same with the shrimp. I could hear the popping of the shrimp so thats how I knew he was alive. Do you hear that at all? If you want to try again get another goby and wait. If the shrimp is in there they will find each other. They like to make really REALLY deep burrows (like the deepest part where you find draugr since you referenced Skyrim . They are reclusive fish, I wouldnt mess with them too much. Some get lucky with theirs that build their burrow where they can see others where you wont really ever see them. Ive just let them be and let them be happy and dont try to force them to be where you can see them!

Thank you for the great advice. It's been a few months and no pistols. I think your right that blowing the sand around probably killed them. If I get them again, I'll leave the dens alone. No clicking at all in months. Sand is 2 to 3 inches deep so maybe I did release nasty in their den.