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MrCrab
10-05-2005, 08:31 PM
I got a madrine goby and he is skiny how can I get him to eat.
stinga
10-05-2005, 08:43 PM
Maybe your tank does not have enought little bugs for the very picky eater...?:icon_frowit prolly likes moving food aswell.
MrCrab
10-05-2005, 08:52 PM
my tank is flooded with the bogs when you turn on the light at night the are ever where
Invigor
10-05-2005, 08:58 PM
in that case, just give him time. if there's lots of bugs, he'll eat to his content and eventually fill out.
scjohnsons
10-06-2005, 06:12 PM
How long have you had your tank running?
How long have you had your goby?

I had a similar problem, I ended up ordering him some pricey copepods from a lady in the states. If his belly looks "pinched", he's starvin'. I read they can live up to approx. 6 months but will slowly starve to death. My lil' guy seems to be fattening up since I dropped the pods in.

I got my copepods at oceanpods.com You can even culture your own...

or you can go to reefcrew.ca to get some too.

If you've had him there for awhiile, check him and make sure he's eating. If he's not, I'd consider getting some copepods ordered in. They should eat....

Just my thoughts on it....
Invigor
10-06-2005, 06:46 PM
an easier much cheaper way to get copepods is to find a friend with an established tank, buy a sponge, say for an aquaclear 500 and put it in your friends tank for a week or two, and the pods will breed in it..bring it back to your house (make sure to keep it in water) and add it to your tank..should be lots of life for you.
stinga
10-06-2005, 06:54 PM
Hey John

That is a very clever idea!Probably werks like a charm.:spin:
MrCrab
10-06-2005, 07:34 PM
My tank has been up and running for about 4 mounts and it is well eastabashet
Rentaltux
10-07-2005, 09:59 AM
My tank has been up and running for about 4 mounts and it is well eastabashet

Just my 2 cents but 4 months doesn't = an established tank in my books. It seems like the goby might have been put in to soon. I would be looking for more pods.

R
briansmyth
10-07-2005, 11:12 AM
Mr.Crab bought a fair amount of live rock from myself, so that's probably where the little creatures are coming from - that portion of his tank would be more established than others.

I think you're right in that fish like mandarin gobies shouldn't be introduced too early - I'm guessing that this might be an exception. Would garlic of some kind help stimulate the goby's appetite?
Rentaltux
10-07-2005, 12:52 PM
Would garlic of some kind help stimulate the goby's appetite?

I think it would be worth a shot.

R
Invigor
10-07-2005, 02:28 PM
how large is this tank and how much rock is in it.

also, it took -my- tank over a year to establish itself...only to have me rip it down, move, and start allllll over :huh:
scary gary
10-07-2005, 06:15 PM
Usually when talking established tank, it means 1 year or older. Dosen't matter about the live rock, it just takes time for every thing to settle in.The fish will have a better chance with more rock as this increases the amount of pods. I would advise to not put a manderine in a tank for at least 6 months and leaving it for a year is better still.
Invigor
10-07-2005, 07:24 PM
The fish will have a better chance with more rock as this increases the amount of pods.

that's what I was gettin' to.