Rumor's Gobies Tank

[KingFish]

Say hello to Hector ... literally

[KingFish]

The Hector Goby (Amblygobius hectori), a hover goby from the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) class which occurs solitarily, hovering a short distance above sandy bottoms of reef bases.

[KingFish]

Side profile, notice its similarity to the A. Rainfordi.

It has a bluish-black rather than green, with yellow longitudinal stripes and a chain of ocelli from the base of the second dorsal fin to the upper caudal rays.

[FuEl]

Wow...din know the colour was so nice. Anyway...how big is it? I might be able to squeeze one into my tank if I can find one around 2cm.

[KingFish]

It is a fine fine specimen courtesy of Edwin from Paradiz Reef.

You can see its colouration is very distinct.

Here's a shot of it with a Banded Goby.

[FuEl]

Wow...din know you were a goby fan as well... ^5.

[KingFish]

PR has some smaller sized individuals which is about 1inch, I took the largest one which is about 2 inches.

Just got my second Hector from Edwin

Here another frontal shot.

[Achilles Tang]

Nice specimen! Is it eating algae yet?

[KingFish]

This new addition has apparently peaked the Seahorse's interest ... its doing a 'Spiderman' to sneak a peak

[KingFish]

Thanks for the attention ... ADIOS !!!!

[KingFish]

According to a number of websites, it will eat filamentous algae (aka the pest Hair Algae).

Here's an extract from FishBase.org:

"Stomach contents of one specimen comprise of filamentous algae, harpaticoid copepods, ostracods, amphipods, and nematodes"

It certainly is picking off the new algae buds on the rocks, and even sifting the sand. Its a great worker

[KingFish]

Wow...din know you were a goby fan as well... ^5.

Some of them do exhibit great colours and unique character.

They are kept in a Seahorse / Gobies tank so they can show me all they got

Lets see some of yours Fuel

[FuEl]

Ok...Will take some pics tomorrow and post them as my tank update. First must go buy AA batteries...my digital camera uses batteries like drinking honey-water.

[ervine]

Nice.... must have cost quite a bit

[AlfaRomeo]

Wow, never saw that kinda colorful goby before.. a question , do all gobies get along with each other?

[ryan]

err...

male fire gobies dont...

heh!

[Terryz_]

Bro... What did you feed it... I got one A. Rainfordi but died the next day... and it does not eat the filamentous algae in my tank ler...

[KingFish]

The cost of it is fairly negligible considering their colours are fairly unique of you take the time to look.

Character they exhibit is also a big draw, tend to draw attention to themselves easily when they should remain conspicious.

To date, its doing fine, pecking on the rocks for algae and even clearing the detritus which has accumulated on the rocks. It feeds on minute pieces of mysis and brine.

I introduced a smaller Hector, the bigger one will come by to show who is boss.

It a pity your A. Rainfordi did not make it, I am looking for one of it. The only other person I know who owns one is Eprouve.

Perhaps its not in good shape since it died the next day, if it has started feeding on the algat at least, it may stand a better chance.

[Terryz_]

Is it true that these goby are more difficult to keep than other goby...

[KingFish]

IMO They seem relatively hardy as long, it'll be good if you can provide:

- Suitably sized food

- an environment with sand to burrow or rocks to perch and hide

- no predation / agression

Preferably in a species only tank, I suppose it should not be too difficult.

My Seahorses do not give two hoots about them, except when they come stealing food from their dish, not that they can do anything about it anyway.

[Terryz_]

Hmm... If got another chance... do you think i should try that fish again... Wait die like wasted...

[KingFish]

If you can pick a nice healthy one and provide a stress free environment, I do not see why not.

I'm sure you're sensible to know not to experiment on these precocious lives

Anyway, here's my latest addition to my Seahorse & Gobies only tank, a High Fin Red Banded Goby (Stonogobiops nematodes)

[KingFish]

And this is my other Hectori

[ryan]

hey!

you bought the high fin goby!

the one i wanted to get yesterday!!!

grrr!

hahaa

[KingFish]

There is another one, you and Terry can duke it out over it