Yellow Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp - MIA

niccumec · Jul 5, 2024

New fish from Dr. Reef all arrived safe and sound on Tuesday. Royal Gramma, Exquisite, One Spot Foxface and Midas Blenny are seemingly doing well and all eating.

Question: The Yellow Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp have been MIA in my 25 gallon Quarantine/Observation tank since sometime Tuesday night. Presumably burrowed into the sand that I placed in there for them. I do not, however, see a burrow opening. How long should I let them hide without disturbing the sand?

Quarantine setup below.

SnazzyUrchin792 · Jul 5, 2024

Mine hid for over a week when I got them

niccumec · Jul 5, 2024

So just do not disturb for a week? I could eventually dump the sand from the dishes in the bottom of the QT tank…

Possible burrow under Blenny’s PVC hideout??? Too small for Watchman, but perhaps under there somewhere…

niccumec · Jul 8, 2024

Okay, I found my Yellow Watchman. He somehow made it to the back chambers of my 25 gal IM AIO tank. As other posts have mentioned, getting this guy out of this design sump is not an easy task. The back has multiple chambers with the center pump chamber extending below the filter chambers. That is where this little guy is hiding.

Should I leave him be for the next week or so until fish are ready to be transferred to my DT? Is it worth the stress on him - and potentially others? I can try spot feeding him where he is…

The pistol came out from the burrow in the front of the tank and looks fine - albeit separated from the Watchman!

niccumec · Jul 10, 2024

I finally got him out of the back chamber. Now hopefully he will start eating and pair back up with the pistol…

As has been posted in the past by others, the design of the back chamber of the Innovative Marine AIO Nuvo tanks makes it very hard as the pump chamber continues underneath the side filter chambers, making this a great place for hiding.

I ended up using a plastic drain cleaner (with the hooks cut off) and some small microfiber towels to get this guy out.

1st I blocked off the right side with a towel. Next, I inserted the plastic drain cleaner under the filter chamber to draw him to the center. Then I held him at bay with threat of a net while I blocked off the other side chamber. This left only the center chamber for catching him. I was able to net him up and put him in the front tank.

I initially tried using the PVC to block the sides, but learned that even with the PVC cut to the precise length, he got back under the filter chamber. Upon looking closer at my design idea, I realized that the PVC must have been slightly off bottom due to the bottom edge silicone - enough for that sucker to get under and back in his hideout.