watchman goby

[afss]

Hi all. I have a blue spotted watchman goby. Recently i have noticed him picking up dime-nickle sized hermits by their shell and moving them around the tank. he only seem to grab ones from a certain area, and always seems to take them to another area. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this behavior. He doesn't seem to hurt them.. just doesn't like them where they were.:D

Scott

[reefnut]

Hi Scott,

What's up with all these fish pickin stuff up and movin stuff around or droppin critters into other critters LMAO :)

First Greg and now you??

Guys if ya need my CB to take care of em for ya lemeno:D

I'm gettin ready to take him back to the LFS but there is still time

Reefnut

[Son Of Skyline]

I've heard of a few types of gobies and jawfish that will pick other animals up and move them out of their territory...sometimes even other fish! In most cases there is no damage done. I find it kind of amusing ;)

[pluff]

My Maroon Clown,also does the same thing.Actually both of the Clowns do it.They seem to take them (Crabs) from one certain spot and put them in another spot,with no damage done.I wish the 2 Clowns would stop messing up the sand.It P***** me off :)

[afss]

I have seen clowns do it, but normally they are either moving the crabs away from their host, or moving them to the mosts mouth to feed it. I figure the watchman just doesn't want their competition for food near his cave.. I have even seen him come out and try to pick up my mandarin and move it.. he's not really attacking the mnandarin, and it doesn't really seem to care so i'm not worried. Maybe they think of it as a taxi service around the tank:)

[Dman]

The activity that your fish is exhibiting is territorial by nature.
The Clown fish may have selected that particular spot as a potential location to affix eggs, and the gobie may be nesting/sleeping/feeding in that particular spot.
Fish are funny that way. And is probably not anything to get too concerned about. if anything try to make observations about that particular spot during oft times of the day, when there isn't an intruder, you may be surprised. Your fish could be up to anything. (except trying to take over the world) this practice is best done as unobtrusive as possible.
Derek
:spin: