goby help

i had a fish in the tank i had a few years back and can not figure out what it was. i have searched the net and can't find it. the lfs that i got it from is no longer in busness so i'm hoping somebody can help me. when i bought the fish it was about an inch to inch and a half long. after about 3 or 4 years later he was about 12 to 16 inches long. he was black and white striped which is why i was told he was an engineer goby but his stripes were vertical not horizonal. i was also told he was a rock eel which i understand is a goby. his features resembled a goby so i'm sure he was but i cant find out what he was to have the new lfs order one for me. can anyone help?

 

does anybody have a clue? he always stayed under the rocks till feeding time. he would come out and eat from your hand and return under the rocks just as quick. my daughter wants an eel and if this was truely a goby it would be the perfect substitute for an eel. he was peaceful and minded his own buisness.

 

Not sure. Bump!

 

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Engineer Goby read what is says about the strips changing as they age

 

maybe he was an engineer goby his stripes did not change but maybe he was old enough when i got him that they had already changed. its hard to say but i bet it is an engineer goby. thanks for the help.

 

check out utube. boy do they look different when they mature YouTube - engineer goby finally socializes

here is another one hiding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyHtSEZ7vhE

 

WOW! that is exactly him! thank you pink. i have searched and searched and never found one that looked like mine did.

 

your welcome. they almost look like an eel when they mature. i have always seen them in local fish stores in the juvenile state when they are moving sand all over the place. i thought that was cool. do they still move the sand all over when they mature?

 

mine only moved the sand in the area he stayed in. once he was settled in he didn't mess with much but you do have to make sure your rock wont fall as they do dig under it. the video show them swimming around alot, mine never did he just stayed under the rocks and would stick his head out like he wanted to see what was going on but didnt want anything to know he was there. so never got to see him much unless it was feeding time. i had a red bottle that i used to feed them with and everytime he saw the bottle out he came. i used to take brine shrimp and feed him from my hand which was cool but as soon as he took it he was right back under the rock. my daughter wants an eel so i think this would be the perfect thing. she probably wouldn't know the difference. they are pretty cool to watch though because once they get to be full size it seems like the body never ends. youll see him at one rock and his tail will be around a rock on the other end of the tank. you wouldnt believe how many of my friends thought it was an eel.

 

i agree about it being the perfect thing for your daughter. she might be able to hand feed it. and with a eel? i dont think thats a good idea.
but now the trick is to find one full grown. if i were you i would stalk live aquarias divers den. lol they come up with some goodies and maybe you will find a mature engineer goby