Goby I.D

[ShadowBass]

Ok, let me try this on here and see if anyone can help.

I've posted this on a few message boards, even one specifically for gobies, and either no response or no one knows what he is.

So here he is:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8324/p1010170fh4.jpg

He was originally sold by one of the LFS as an algae blenny :screwy:

Brought to a different LFS by someone and then sold to us. Guy at the fish store had no idea what he was. Even with his identification booklet we couldn't figure it out.

He's about 3 1/2 inches long (hasn't grown any in the few months that I've had him). Swims to the top and eats out of my hand. Or tries to eat my actual hand if there's no food in it.

I would appreciate any input whatsoever that might help me figure out what the heck he is.

[BIGgourami]

some kind of sleeper goby?

[KenyanSandBoa]

Hmmm....that's a tough one.

It looks like some species of decorated sand gobies. Try researching the Istigobius genus...you may be able to find a species list somewhere.

[ShadowBass]

Thanks I'll look into that.

I tried looking at gobiidae.com before but the list is SO huge, I didn't even know what region to start in.

I'll have to try and get another picture of him since he changes pattern a bit sometimes. It's hard to get one though since when he's out he's swiming up and down at the glass trying to get fed, and otherwise he's hiding in the rocks, lol.

[ShadowBass]

Nope, none of the species of that genus that I found on fishbase even remotely looked like him, other than the standard goby-ish shape.

The closest I've found so far is the Bathygobius curacao on this page:

http://gobiidae.com/FL_goby_project/FL_list.htm

But it's still not a complete match, so I guess I'll start looking through all the Bathygobius species (argh, there's so many!), and see if I come up with anything.

There's not even pics of all of them online, so if anyone has a good I.D book and can help I'd greatly appreciate it!

[KenyanSandBoa]

Nope, none of the species of that genus that I found on fishbase even remotely looked like him, other than the standard goby-ish shape.

The closest I've found so far is the Bathygobius curacao on this page:

http://gobiidae.com/FL_goby_project/FL_list.htm

But it's still not a complete match, so I guess I'll start looking through all the Bathygobius species (argh, there's so many!), and see if I come up with anything.

There's not even pics of all of them online, so if anyone has a good I.D book and can help I'd greatly appreciate it!

Yeah, you could be looking for quite some time. :D

That's the thing with trying to id gobies...the species list never seem to end.

[andyourblueblood]

god. its a decorater goby. looks xanthic almost lacks orange. def a decorater though!

[Twitterbait]

Ok, I asked on my other board and here are a few answers from the thread:

#1. http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/flentigin.htm

#2. i got several things for you to try and match.

have you looked at sandperches?

try looking up Brown-barred goby and sphynx goby.

#3. ok... i think i found it... i think it is a Target prawn goby, Cryptocentrus strigilliceps

Third row middle pic
http://www.reefimages.com/Gobies/Gobies7.htm (http://www.reefimages.com/Gobies/Gobies7.htm)

http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefim...&slide=153.jpg (http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefim...&slide=153.jpg)

Here is the thread address: http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107804

[ShadowBass]

I ended up identifying him as a rock goby (Gobius paganellus) or black goby (Gobius niger).

None of the other fish you posted have the same finnage or markings, and as far as the person that posted dragon goby, he looked nothing like that, lol.
I once owned a dragon goby:
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8417/hovergobyaz1.jpg

Unfortunately though I lost the "unidentified" goby awhile back because it seems he somehow got caught in the rocks and tore himself up :(
Just after I got done setting up a 10g for quarantine he died. He was a cool fish :(

[ShadowBass]

This page is on the black goby: http://www.glaucus.org.uk/blakgoby.htm

This page is on the rock goby:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/rockgoby.htm

They aren't easy to tell apart, but I'm 99.9% positive he was one of the two. They're not reef dwelling fish and aren't specifically sold in the hobby. Not a tropical either from what I can see. I'm guessing he ended up in a holding tank or something and got shipped out with another species.