A proper environment matters

[borjam]

This week I have had a powerful reminder of something we tend to forget sometimes: our critters must be provided with the right conditions. I'm not just talking about the obvious chemical environment, but a proper habitat.

 

Last Friday, visiting my LFS, I noticed a Cryptocentrus cinctus swimming arond a tank, along the walls, close to the surface. It's a very unusual behavior. The tank is populated by some small perculas and some Chrysipteras.

 

As the goby in my nano died three months ago and the Alpheus was alone I decided to risk it and get the fish. It was really stressed, with the fins a bit ragged.

 

So, home I went, acclimated, and released the goby. It just sat on the sand bed keeping calm while exploring the surroundings. It found the burrow and entered it.

 

And what happened? 10 minutes later I could see this.

 

 

No agitated breathing, just normal bevhavoir. The Alpehus venturing outside again, and the fish following along. No signs of aggression (even though the goby is very young and it's smaller than the shrimp, and to make it worse it's thin and weakened) apart from some rather funny pushing when the fish got in the way.

 

After some generous feedings with frozen mysis and krill (which it can barely consume but I know from experience that these gobies can tackle surprisingly large prey) yesterday its condition had clearly improved. The fish is calm, aware of its surroundings, and now it displays a raised (and almost healed) dorsal fin which it didn't display on Saturday.

 

The other goby, which was a bit larger than this one when I bought it, has been in this tank for four and a half years, I hope this one will be with me longer I wonder about the life span of an Alpheus bellulus, though.

 

[Azedenkae]

What a story! Yes indeed, so many times do hobbyists chase the idea of perfection - but of water parameters, of equipment setups, of pristiness, without remembering that really, all that organisms need is to be at home to thrive.

 

Hope that goby will leave a long and happy life in your care!

[GokesReef]

Great story and nice save! As for the tiger pistol.. I had one outlive 2 gobies, I think you might have a few more years with both of them ahead!

[CCDillon]

Great story. Glad to hear things like this. I tell everyone that sees my tank, that if they want something like that.. you are not just taking care of a fish, you are taking care of a closely-functional ecosystem and you will never have balance without this.

 

Sure, that turns people off, but that just means less fish death.