Best fish?

[photochimper]

Whats the best fish to keep the bottom turned up in a fish only tank?

[captainron19]

I see it is a fish only tank but have you given any consideration to a sand sifting starfish? I think they do a great job in a tank as far as moving the sandbed around and cleaning things up

[jjsteele]

We have an orange spotted goby that does a really great job at cleaning and moving the substrate around

[captainron19]

That was my next choice - I noticed my goby would actually scoop up some of my sand every once in a file and filter it through his gills (assume he was feeding)

[big]

If it needs to be a fish, one choice would be a Diamond Goby (aka) Rotor-tiller fish) if you want to have spotless substrate. Many folks use this guy. But they have many downfalls too.

The issues with them are they tend to be jumpers ( no issues with mine) quiet home no kids anymore to startle him with noise. Also a nearly 50 gallon fuge feeding the little pod eater. I have seen where they are tide poll skippers. As long as they have food in this "little tide pool" I think they do not tend to try to leave the pool (jump out of your tank) But it your tank runs out of pods etc , carpet surfing 101 seems to be their next class in school.

The do eat just about anything in the substrate (pods included) leaving the substrate barren of seeable critters. Next, they will rearrange the landscaping of your substrate regularly!! If you have a "DSB" he will make mountains out of it in places. Other than these issues, they are just about unbeatable at keeping the substrate clean, but you pay the cost of living with these issues forever more. Plus they are a neat fish to watch work......... Good Luck.... Warren

[Mr. Reef]

Diamond goby would be good.I use them myself. I tend to shy away from starfish anymore too. Even in a large tank thats very mnatyre I have never had much luck with starfish. They seem to eat whatever is in the sand / substrate and clean it of everyting thats alive and thenslowly starve to death. I also have had a yellow watchman goby that is continually sifting sand, and does a great job as well.

[big]

Originally Posted by Mr. Reef

Diamond goby would be good.I use them myself. I tend to shy away from starfish anymore too. Even in a large tank thats very mnatyre I have never had much luck with starfish. They seem to eat whatever is in the sand / substrate and clean it of everyting thats alive and thenslowly starve to death. I also have had a yellow watchman goby that is continually sifting sand, and does a great job as well.

Yes this chance of starvation is an issue too even with the Diamond. Mine has learned to also take pellet food. But like some other fishes a large fuge supplying an ample and continuous supply of pods is needed

[bahabully]

Agree, Orange spot or diamond goby does a nice job... if you ever need to find him in the tank look for the little puffs of smoke (debris) he emits as they filter sand through thier gills.

[captainron19]

Originally Posted by bahabully

Agree, Orange spot or diamond goby does a nice job... if you ever need to find him in the tank look for the little puffs of smoke (debris) he emits as they filter sand through thier gills.

I always thought that was neat how they filter through their gills and they do keep the sand bed cleaned and moved around enough.