New 10 Gallon Setup For Bumblebee Gobies

Hello Fish Lore!

I have set up my first 5 gallon tank and am very enthused about it. But after an impulse purchase of Bumblebee Gobies now find myself needing to set up another aquarium, which will be 10 gallons, and I'm looking for any advice on my plan. (The short version of the impulse purchase is that the LFS reassured me the BBGs would have ample space in the 5 gallon aquarium.)

In my 5 gallon tank, I currently have:

6x Exclamation Rasboras
3x Bumblebee Gobies
1x Mystery Snail
1x Nerite Snail
1x Blue Velvet Shrimp

The tank has been set up for nearly 5 weeks, and the BBGs were added three weeks ago. It is cycled and all fish are eating well (BBGs are even eating dry pellets in addition to frozen bloodworms). Some pictures are attached so you can get a sense of it.





However, there is a lot of chasing each other around by the BBGs and even some full blown head to head fighting during feeding times. The BBGs leave the Rasboras alone completely. I am guessing that the 5 gallon space doesn't allow enough room for each BBG to create a sufficient territory. Hence, my plan to get a new, 10 gallon aquarium.

My plan is to move the three BBGs, one of the two snails, and perhaps the blue shrimp over to this 10g. I will set up some cave structures out of pots or rocks and try to give each BBG more space.

My questions are:

1. Does it make sense to move the BBGs to the 10g, rather than keeping them in the 5 gallon and moving the Rasboras to the 10g?

2. If I do move the BBGs to the 10 gallon as planned, could I add any more fish to either the 10 gallon or the 5g? (I wouldn't do this right away but only after the fish settled down after moving).

3. If the answer to No. 2 is yes, what are some good mates for the BBGs, given their past squabbling and finicky eating habits? Platies? Endlers? Pea puffers? Scarlet Badis? Dwarf Gourami? More BBGs (to reduce/spread aggression)?

Thanks ahead of time for any responses. I am so impressed by all of the awesome information and expertise on this website!

 

Welcome to fishlore!

1. The rasboras really need 10 gallons minimum. I would move the rasboras and 2 of the BBGs over to the 10 gallon and leave one BBG in the 5 gallon.
2. No more fish but I think you should add some more blue velvet shrimp as they feel safer in groups.
3. Adding more BBGs will only make it worse.

Personally I think it would be a lot better if you could move everyone over to a 20 gallon long.

 

Depending on the species of BBG you got, they may do much better in slightly brackish water. One species is a true freshwater fish, but the more common one sold in the hobby is a brackish water fish that can adapt to a SG of 1.000 (fresh) all the way to 1.026 (marine). If you could maybe get a 20 long, move all the rasboras/plants/shrimp/snails to it, and get the 10 gallon set up with a SG of 1.005-1.008, you'd probably see much less aggression out of the gobies and a lot more life in the rasboras. If you could post a pic of the gobies, we could identify which species you have so you'd know what salinity they do better in

 

Thanks for the replies!

I would move the rasboras and 2 of the BBGs over to the 10 gallon and leave one BBG in the 5 gallon.

That's a good idea. It's not a problem to leave one BBG as a singleton in the 5g?

No more fish but I think you should add some more blue velvet shrimp as they feel safer in groups.

Thanks for this tip. The shrimp does seem to be in hiding most of the time. One thing I've found is that the blue shrimps are so much more expensive than the red ones!

If you could post a pic of the gobies, we could identify which species you have so you'd know what salinity they do better in

The LFS assured me they were freshwater when I asked but I guess it's hard to be certain. (they were kept together with pea puffers at the store.) I'll try to get some close up photos late tonight. You can see them in the upper left of both photos I already added (and on the right side rock in the 2nd photo) but they are pretty small.

Personally I think it would be a lot better if you could move everyone over to a 20 gallon

I'd do this immediately if it were entirely up to me! For now, 10 gallons is the maximum addition I can make.

 

The brackish bumblebee gobies have broken yellow stripes. They don't go all the way around their body. And even if you do have the brackish kind, they can handle freshwater well. You just have to be extra careful about diseases as their immune systems are weaker in fresh.

From the looks of it, you have the freshwater species! I'd say do as said above. Keep one of the BBG's in the 5 gallon (the most aggressive one) and move the rest of the fish into the 10.

 

Great. Thanks for the info and recommendations. And here are a few snaps I took tonight with some more detail on the BBGs. I did my best but they don't pose for the photos well.

 

Definitely looks like the Freshwater species. And although it's been 3 weeks, they may still be trying to figure out a pecking order, which could explain some aggression. I've never experience any real fighting with these guys in the past (mostly pecking and flaring) but I also never had less than 5-10 at one time.

 

That's a good idea. It's not a problem to leave one BBG as a singleton in the 5g?

Thanks for this tip. The shrimp does seem to be in hiding most of the time. One thing I've found is that the blue shrimps are so much more expensive than the red ones!

Nope, they are fine (and often happier) alone

You can add red cherry shrimp since they are exactly the same as the blue ones. If the two colours interbreed though then the babies will be brown.

 

Definitely looks like the Freshwater species. And although it's been 3 weeks, they may still be trying to figure out a pecking order, which could explain some aggression. I've never experience any real fighting with these guys in the past (mostly pecking and flaring) but I also never had less than 5-10 at one time.

Out of curiosity, how big a tank did you keep the 5-10 BBGs in and did you have any other fish in there?

Nope, they are fine (and often happier) alone

You can add red cherry shrimp since they are exactly the same as the blue ones. If the two colours interbreed though then the babies will be brown.

Good to know, as I was curious what would happen in that event. Thanks!

 

Out of curiosity, how big a tank did you keep the 5-10 BBGs in and did you have any other fish in there?

It was a 20 long. I think I was above the recommended number at 10 (may have been 8-9, I don't remember), but I didn't have any aggression issues as it was a brackish tank with 7-8 small pieces of driftwood strewn across the tanks length. A home for everyone.