Strange Diamond Goby Behavior

[brianjfinn]

I'll post a video of this once I get it uploaded.

I have a pair of Diamond Gobies, and recently the larger one buried the smaller one in a hole they both created. It was really cool to watch, but I'm wondering what the reason behind it is. My only guess is that it has something to do with spawning, but I've never heard of Diamond Gobies spawning in captivity.

It's neat to see. The larger goby will run around the tank grabbing small shells, even inhabited ones, and use them to help build the tunnel that the two create. The smaller one will do the excavating, and the larger will work on the outside structure. Eventually the smaller one will go into the hole, and the larger one will cover it up. The smaller one will stay in the hole for a day or two, then eventually I'll see it swimming around with the other.

Any ideas on what this behavior could be?

 

[winkkle]

Sounds like mating behavior.

 

[brianjfinn]

Here's the Video:



It's a little long, but I found it interesting and fun to watch. I think you can hear my wife and I in the background, and probably the TV, too, so disregard that. Or just turn your sound off, it doesn't add anything to the video.

If anyone has other ideas on what they may be doing, I'd love to hear it. The little guy stayed buried for a few days, but has been out and about ever since. Just wondering what they were going.

 

[jamescook]

My YWGobies are spawning regularly in the DT. They close up the cave and are both in there. Then the female (chances are that's what we are looking at) emerges and at day 4 the smaller male will be seen popping out a bit. Then it starts again next week. I bet you have a male tending eggs right now.

 

[kirru]

i spent a very good 7 minutes watching that... thanks, it was amazing too lol

 

[codsack]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

 

[brianjfinn]

jamescook;687889 wrote: My YWGobies are spawning regularly in the DT. They close up the cave and are both in there. Then the female (chances are that's what we are looking at) emerges and at day 4 the smaller male will be seen popping out a bit. Then it starts again next week. I bet you have a male tending eggs right now.

That's what I was hoping! Do you think there's any way to rear the fry? I don't have the setup, but if there was a way I could get the eggs out, I'd definitely give them to someone to try.

 

[jamescook]

I could probably rear them if we could catch em. I have a larval snagger but haven't had any luck catching the larvae out of the 125g DT.

 

[brianjfinn]

jamescook;688008 wrote: I could probably rear them if we could catch em. I have a larval snagger but haven't had any luck catching the larvae out of the 125g DT.

Hmmm... Maybe we should get together and talk logistics. This would definitely be worth trying.

Edit: Maybe I could take that Onyx clown pair off your hands at the same time...