Keeping Shrimp Goby/snapping Shrimp

[xxBarneyxx]

From what I have read goby's in general are pretty easy to care for and are reef and invert safe.

I'm really fasinated with the shrimp/goby behaviour and would love to recreate this when I get my tank set up (and cycled/matured).

Planning on a 50g tank FOWLR to start (with light fish stocking) then going on to corals later on down the line when I know what I'm doing and the aquarium is proven as stable.

Has anyone got any experience with keeping a shrimp/Goby team? Any particular ones better then others?
What substrate would be best?
Will they always pair up and should they be put in together or the Goby first?

I haven't got any plans on other tank mates yet (other then the obligitory Clownfish pair ) but will more then likely be relatively small. Maybe a single firefish and maybe a dwarf angel once the tank is mature (though I'm not sure a 39inch long tank is long enough and that is what I'm looking at currently).

 

[SkiFletch]

For substrates, usually the largest grade of "sand" is the best, along with a very small amount of small reef rubble mixed in so that the shrimp/goby can really fortify their home

 

[Lynden]

Agree with above.

How likely are the shrimp to use their 'gun' on other shrimps, snails, et cetera?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

That is a good question...

Still researching it atm so if I dig up any useful info I will post it here.

On a separate note my first piece of kit came through today

RO/DI unit with TDS unit. Not sure why i'm so excited about this but I cant wait to get home and plumb it in (I don't actually need any RO water yet but never mind.... ).

Still trying to find a tank. 3ft reef ready tanks seem hard to come by for some reason (can find smaller and bigger but none on the 3ft mark).

 

[SkiFletch]

Still trying to find a tank. 3ft reef ready tanks seem hard to come by for some reason (can find smaller and bigger but none on the 3ft mark).

Heh, I hear that. The 3' models out there are the 30g, 40g breeder, 45g tall, 65g, and the illusive 89g. You UK guys pretty much go for 4' or bust, very few 3' models out ther. Here in the states, all but the 89 are common. Wish I had an 89 myself (36x24x24") but they're all custom

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thats actually good to know, thought I was just going a bit nuts as I couldnt find any I was aiming for either a 40g or 45g

Could I use a predrilled fluval tank (holes drilled in the bottom) and build a wier box into it? (is it called a wier box? the overflox box thingy ).

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Think I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy a Aquamedic Percula 90. 88g and is just about a perfect fit for the space I have (didnt actually realise this was an 88g!). Might have to build a slightly lower cabinet. I had budgeted £1k for tank and equipment and my LFS has the 90's going for £900 (might actually work out a little cheaper then I had planned). I prefer having everything seperate but I have not seen any other tanks for sale with similar dimensions.

 

[SkiFletch]

Those Perculas make a great first tank. Their hardware is almoast all top quality and while there are some limitations with the tank like that, they're perfect for beginners that can foot the bill. You won't be dissapointed