Yellow vs Green Clown Goby?

[Mano]

Hi

I'm setting up a super-nano five gallon fish and invertebrates tank and have been looking at Yellow and Green Clown Gobys. Due to the size of the tank, I'll only be getting one fish to accompany a Pistol Shrimp (and hopefully some Mini Brittles).

My question is the personality and health of each fish.
From what I have read, Green Clowns seem to be a little more hardy but far more shy, usually hiding, where as the Yellow Clowns are much more visible, even hanging out on the glass, but slightly less hardy. The hearty question could just be a matter of opinion though, which is why I'm asking. I was previously looking at Firefish Gobys but it grows perhaps a bit large for my setup, and seems as if they like the need to be in pairs, and I don't think I could keep two happy in my small setup.

Honestly I've been leaning toward the Greens just because of their looks, but I know that's not necessarily the best way to decide! I would like something that is at least slightly more visible in the tank than not, since I've already spent a week looking at a tank of rock and sand!

I'm still cycling the tank and so am at least another week, probably two from adding any life, but I wanted to start planning now.

Thank you for any info and/or opinions!

[madfronter]

I have a 55 gallon reef tank with two yellow clown gobies and two green clown gobies. In my experience with them so far I would say the yellow clown gobies are more active around the tank and feed more openly compared to the green clown gobies. I see you want a fish to accompany a pistol shrimp. I would reccomend getting a Amblyeleotris or Stonogobiops type of goby to go with a pistol shrimp. They will usually have a symbiotic relationship with eachother. They will share the a hole/cave the shrimp will make as a home for them. It is a really cool relationship to see in your aquarium. I would reccomend an orange spot goby or orange stripe prawn goby. And I think you could get away with getting a green or yellow clow goby as well in your nano. I hope this information helps.

[Mano]

Thank you very much for the info, Mad.

Both the Stripe and the Spot Gobies grow to 3.5 to 4 inches, I'm hesitant about that since my tank is so small, I don't want to overcrowd them. I'll keep looking for more info.

Thank you!

[madfronter]

You are welcome!

I still think you will be ok with one of them in your 5 gallon tank since they do not really stray from their hideout. Most fish recommended for a nano tank say they need at least 10 gallons but I think one shrimp goby and a clown goby would be just fine in your tank.

[weez1959]

I have a 6g JBJ cube and it started out with a Spike fin goby:
Spike Fin Goby (Discordipinna Griessingeri)
Not worth the $$ cuz you never see it!

I thought he died because I didn't see him for a few weeks (he immediately went into hiding and to this day I only see him if I look inside the rock work and even then... ) so I put in my pair of yellow clown gobies that I've had for well over a year and they are doing great. They even lays eggs every week now and yesterday I actually saw all the fry swimming around, only for a few hours of course which is kind of sad
They never hide and are quick to come and bite (poke) the hand that feeds them if you get too close to the eggs!

I did have a green clown goby once, I never saw him either, he was just like the spike fin, always hiding. I haven't seen him in over 8 months, he might be alive but I'm not about to tear up my 90g just to find out!

[Mano]

Thanks Weez.

I like the looks of the green clowns, but I'm think I'm leaning toward the personality of the yellow clowns.

I'm also considering upgrading my tank to a 10 gallon (if I can find some decent live rock to stock it with) to see about giving some more floor room for the watcher goby and shrimp. I might look into putting a pair of yellow clowns in if I do this, as they sound very amusing.

Anyone have advice over which pair should go in first if I do this, the clowns or the shrimp/goby?

[weez1959]

I would add the shrimp and goby first and let them and the tank settle in for a few weeks then add the yellows. Since the tank is small it's always a good idea to add the livestock slowly

[madfronter]

A 10 gallon wouldn't be a bad idea. Just know even though you have the pistol shrimp and goby in a 10 gallon tank they won't be spending much time any further than a few inches from their home in the substrate. So the 5 gallon you currently have set up should be just fine for them. But they always say the bigger the better.

[Mano]

A 10 gallon wouldn't be a bad idea. Just know even though you have the pistol shrimp and goby in a 10 gallon tank they won't be spending much time any further than a few inches from their home in the substrate.

That's why I'm thinking of going to a 10 gallon so that I'd be sure I could a yellow clown goby healthy and happy. Having him visible while the others burrow down would be fun.

[svenoftibet]

I have a green clown goby and for the first few weeks he was always in the rockwork . He only came out at feeding time . But he has formed a relationship with a green mushroom and is seen relaxing on it much of the day . It was definately worth the wait .

[charlie]

Would you look at the set of choppers on that guy.

[SEAf]

I have never had any experience with a Yellow Clown Goby, but I have a Green Clown Goby. He spent the first two or three days in my tank hiding. After that he came out and acts as if he owns the place. His favorite hangout is in some Green Star Polyps at the front of the tank. He also spends a lot of time sitting on top of my Frogspawn Anemone and once in a while he sits on one of several mushrooms. He looks exactly like the picture in the previous post... choppers and all! He has never been aggressive towards any other critter in the tank and is always somewhere easily seen.

[leebca]

I'm closing this thread SEAf and others. You'll want to note the last posted date before replying to a thread. This is almost a year and half old.