Question about goby’s

[Adrift]

I recently purchased a wheeler gobby and tiger pistol shrimp yesterday. This was an impulse buy and not on my original list… so here is my question. On my list was a diamond watchman gobby. Can I still get him or do I need to cancel my order? See below for the beautiful pair, I couldn’t resist. Although I have seen the wheeler gobby a few times last night and first thing this morning neither have been seen since. I haven’t seen the pistol shrimp since introduction into tank. I heard a click or two though last night and when I was feeding hatched baby brine to my two clowns. Oh my tank is 96x24x21 total volume 241gl and with displacement I’ve figured 177gl when I first filled it.
I know this is lengthy but honestly if this gobby isn’t a fit will a sand sifting one work? If so what type? Will a madrain be ok down the line?

 

[Sharkbait19]

I don’t think you would have any problems with the two in the tank.
Mandarin will also be fine.

 

[shakacuz]

sufficient space for them.

 

[coralfishreef]

Shouldn’t be an issue. I have a sand sifter and a shrimp goby and they completely ignore each other. Shrimp gobies are completely harmless from my experience with them. The sand sifting goby is also harmless. Unfortunately the tangs in the tank harass the sand sifting goby whenever they see it.

 

[nereefpat]

On diamond gobies: they are not watchman, and won't pair with shrimp despite sometimes being labeled that way. They are sand sifter or 'sleeper' gobies.

 

[Adrift]

So how do you know which ones are the sand sifting gobies?

 

[nereefpat]

So how do you know which ones are the sand sifting gobies?

Scientific (Latin) names, and looking them up on fishbase is an easy way. Cryptocentrus is the shrimp/watchman goby genus, for example.

 

[Karen00]

I agree with @nereefpat. Try to research using the latin name. Most fish have multiple common names and some of those names can be misleading. You don't want to mistakenly buy a fish thinking it's a certain type and it turns out to be completely different simply because the common name was misleading.

 

[Adrift]

I agree with @nereefpat. Try to research using the latin name. Most fish have multiple common names and some of those names can be misleading. You don't want to mistakenly buy a fish thinking it's a certain type and it turns out to be completely different simply because the common name was misleading.

Thank you both.