Bumblebee Gobies

Never2Bknown · Aug 20, 2004

From what I heard from another post, BUmblebee gobies are good at cleaning up/scavenging, have a lot of character, like it slightly brackish, and stay small. This is almost exactly what I am looking for right now... A "bottom feeder" or at least something to clean up after Sail-fin mollies. My main concern is whether or not they would eat fry...but I would also like any other information on this fish that may be of help to me.

Thanks!

SirMinion · Aug 20, 2004

Unlikely, as fry mostly stay in the upper levels and BBGs are very small.

Never2Bknown · Aug 21, 2004

My fry NEVER stay in the upper levels... they are always hiding in the gravel. Maybe it's just something about liver-bearer fry, I dunno. BUt that was why I was worried they might get eaten (my Pictus catfish used to think they were a VERY tasty snack!!! :blink:

).

Puffer_freak · Aug 21, 2004

Nah, I wouldn't have thought so. I had some in with my puffers and they were scavengers, I really can't imagine them eating fry.

SirMinion · Aug 21, 2004

Never2Bknown said:
My fry NEVER stay in the upper levels... they are always hiding in the gravel. Maybe it's just something about liver-bearer fry, I dunno.

How odd. All my guppy fry hang out in the dangling roots of my floating salvinnia.

cutecotton · Aug 21, 2004

that's probably becuase you have a floating plant, but i think if you dont' the next best place for fry is lower in the levels with other plants on the bottom of the aqarium

sorry i can't help you much on the BBG's, never had them before :dunno:

Bling · Aug 22, 2004

My BB Gobies swim all over the tank, even wait at the surface when I feed. I have 5 in a 10-gallon, lots of plants, some coral-type rocks, no other fish. But they don't seem to scavenge at all. I'm having a slow time teaching them to eat anything that doesn't move. I read that they really love guppy fry. I've only had mine about a month, and there's plenty I'd still like to know about them.

Never2Bknown · Aug 22, 2004

Yeah...

I've done a little reading up on them, and it says that they will eat baby fish. Oh, well. I'll just have to be on top of things when one of the mollies gets pregnant (I can't think of any better bottom feeders!).

noelberg · Aug 22, 2004

Gotta agree with SirMinion, floating plants are fantastic for livebearer fry hiding spots.

As for the BBG's, you don't want too many from what I hear, since they're a bit territorial. And how many fry can they fit in those tiny stomachs? I would imagine they couldn't do anywhere near the damage of male livebearers, who love to follow the pregnant female like she's a buffet table :-(

Earthgirl · Aug 23, 2004

Hi all:

I was thinking of getting some Bumblebee Gobies for my figure 8 puffer tank, you know to help clean up with the mess!
What do you guys think?