Goby/Shrimp question

[fijiwigi]

I have an orange-spotted goby and a pistol shrimp. That was added on the 10th I haven't seen the shrimp since I put it in. Behind the center rocks that I have there is a nice cozy hiding place kind of like a cave with 4 openings. I see the Goby poke his head out from there every once in a while to check things out. I am just wondering If i will ever see the pistol shrimp again. And what will they eat should I worry about feeding them. They isn't really much leftover food since I am currently feeding flake food in moderation. No food goes to the bottom, it floats on the top until I turn the return pump back on and the food is sucked down the overflow.

[roka64]

You won't ever see much of him. They are close to blind and prefer to stay hidden. I have seen mine come out on rare occasions. If the goby has formed a symbiotic relationship with the shrimp, he will bring the shrimp food. He probably forages the tank at night.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by roka64

You won't ever see much of him. They are close to blind and prefer to stay hidden. I have seen mine come out on rare occasions. If the goby has formed a symbiotic relationship with the shrimp, he will bring the shrimp food. He probably forages the tank at night.

I am just kinda worried about there being food. I added brand new sand a week before I added the goby/shrimp and Don't really feed my fish a lot. Should I drop feed once a week something to fill their bellies

[roka64]

You can use a gel based food, it sinks to the bottom. Maybe add that a few times a week. I have a feeling some flake does get to him.

[melosu58]

Originally Posted by fijiwigi

No food goes to the bottom, it floats on the top until I turn the return pump back on and the food is sucked down the overflow.

You should not let it float on the top anyway. Get some in your fingers and go below the surface so the food will go all over the tank esp. the bottom. Look for where your goby is and I`ll bet the pistol is around somewhere close.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by melosu58

You should not let it float on the top anyway. Get some in your fingers and go below the surface so the food will go all over the tank esp. the bottom. Look for where your goby is and I`ll bet the pistol is around somewhere close.

Never thought about that thanks. I guess the fish I kinda trained to eat from the water surface. One of these days I will hopefully find the time to go to the grocery store for some home made fish food. Maybe next week. With some chunkier fish food it may sink better.

[melosu58]

Sometimes from eating off the surface they will get bloated from the air that they take in and not look so good.

[cccapt]

Try to avoid flake. It's very high in phosphate.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by cccapt

Try to avoid flake. It's very high in phosphate.

Just out of curiousity not that I don't trust ya. I took 1cup of RO/DI water added about as much flake food as I feed my 46g tank. 1 small pinch. I tested for phospates right-away it tested 5ppm phospates right after I put in the flake food And the flake food hasn't even dissolved yet 5ppm is the max reading on the phospate scale.
After it dissolves I am sure it is much higher. Looks like I am making a trip to the grocery store for seafood for some home made blender mush.

[usmcmarc]

You will eventually see it. Mine were in the tank for months before I got a glimpse of them. All of a sudden a hole and big pile of sand appeared. The goby came out of the hole and hung around the entrance and then I saw the pistol start going in and out the hole moving sand around. It just takes time for them to find a comfortable spot.