bumble bee gobies

hey guys now this was just a thought, i was going through some fish profiles and found the bumble bee goby. i really like these guys and i've always wanted some now i've got a nano going, just finished setting up today and started the cycling process. i cant wait to get this stocked, now if i remember my research correctly they are fairly shy and need a well planted tank which my tank will be once everything grows in and i get the last few plants i want. now the big question will they work with a betta? i would like to get a halfmoon, delta or double tail, the gobies are picky eaters from what i read but i'm fairly sure i could culture some mosquito larvae and supplement with blood worms and daphnea. this would work with the betta as he'll be abit slower to catch them and the gobies will be able to get their share.

right now i sit back and wait to be shot out the water hehe

well now i'm really confuzzled some sites say yes some no, some say they fin nippers some say they've never experienced them as such. so i'm now slightly hopeful. though all confirm they only eat live foods

 

This fish is for a species only tank imo. They need salt in their water and should be kept alone.
I have successfully kept them and they have bred twice. Unfortunately they are little predators, and although the father tried his best to protect the fry, the others enjoyed the fry, as the also enjoy BBS and daphnia.
Good luck!

 

@Gert Combrink though there are some sites that say that there is a species that can live in fresh water. they are the species with the solid black stripes. and one site recons though they scrap for territory they dont really hurt each other. what size tank would you recommend for them?

 

Interesting, I was just talking about setting up a Bumblebee Goby tank on Saturday. Do you have any idea where to get them? Because the last time I saw them was at Exclusive Pets in Centurion nearly 2 years ago.

 

Ive been to all of the petshops today in my hunt for dwarf puffers and I did not see any Bymblebee Goby's.

 

The wholesalers have them quite often so you can ask a LPS to maybe just order some.

 

Thanks @Vis, I'll give that a try. But how many could one put in a 20 liter nano? And what would make suitable tankmates? Panda cories?

 

If you're thinking about tankmates, it's best to stick to surface fish only. If you manage to get the freshwater species, try for the smaller hatchetfish species. If you come across the brackish species, Wrestling halfbeaks would be ideal.

Bumblebees are largely incapable of competing for food, espcially among more active fish. By creating an environment where their tankmates remain almost completely out of their way, you'll have much more success with them.

As for the number you can out in a tank, try for a small group. A group of 3 (a male and 2 females) is best if you want less in-fighting and a greater chance of breeding in the group.

 

i've seen them around now and then in my lfs wonderings. i have a terrible habit of wondering into lfs just to look. just keep an eye out and you might see them. i've decided to forego them based on the comments here and on another site, i'll be looking for maye some microrasboras or something similar. a group of about 5 i think, but time will tell the tank is cycling now and its pure torture waiting for it to finish lol

 

Well the tank I'm setting up is for my girlfriend, and she really loves them, so I'll take the risk. Luckily I'll be able to fill it with mature water from my main tank and stick in some mature filter media as well. If all goes well there should be some pics up over the weekend

 

i think as many have said a specie tank is better for them, i'm abit worried that they'll nip the bettas fins. my gravel is too sharp to have cories or khulis, my new fav bottom feeder. so i'll then settle for the betta and some tetras or something to give abit of movement. at the moment i'm bombing the tank with ferts and excel, about a double dose. i'l do a partial water change on friday and then hopefully will be ready for stocking by tues. i'll be getting some of my old media from my home tanks and also need some super glue for the moss pieces i want to put in. i cant remember which moss i have though, one of the sp i got from vis:bigsmile:. pics will definately follow soon, i have built a water fall that the return from the pump runs over so a little of both worlds hehe. i'm going to try design a planter of some sort for a fern into which he water can run trickle through sand and then over the rock waterfall and back into the tank. yes, i got alot of time on my hands lol.

 

{Mod edit: Non sponsor LPS name removed} used to get them very often. I haven't been to Wonderboom in a while so I don't know if they have had them recently. Give them a call.

I kept 2 or 3 in a community tank for about 8 months. I fed them chopped up earthworms and they never bothered the other fish (neons, mollies, pleco & clown loaches at various times). They were a lot of fun to watch...especially when they were eating.

 

Seriously Zoom, what's with the CENSORSHIP? There were no prices listed, just useful information.

 

I've noted the redacted info for future reference, Zoom. I get it now...its just like the US Army: Don't ask don't tell.:blink1: LMAO

You also mentioned an LFS which is not a sponsor on page 1 of this thread & but that name wasn't redacted. Maybe Zoom thinks I own the one I mentioned, lol.