sand shifting fish?

guys, total noob question here; Which fish shift through your sand, Gobies or Blenny? any particular variation that works better while still being colorful? Thank you

 

there are virtually tons of bottom dwelling fish in this hobby, not just blennies and gobies there are jawfish and mandarins and a few others. its just a matter of preference really.

 

I am looking for a fish that will shift through and clean my sand. In my more established tank, the sand always look dirty even though I vacum it weekly and have a good amout of hermits and snails

 

Mandarins don't really sift your sand, most jawfish and gobies will not sift a large area of sand. here are some better sand sifting gobies- Gobies for Sale: Goby Fish Species Including Shrimp Gobies
For true sand sifting gobies you'll need a large tank.

 

no they wont sift your sand, but they will pick through the substrate looking for food particles which is what most sand sifting fish really do, they dont just sift sand to sift sand.
many of the gobies on that link will sift sand and will also have symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp.

 

how will these little guys do with a marine betta?

 

I have a couple of sand sifting stars in mine and they keep the sandbed very clean. They also don't add to the bioload as much as fish.

 

Most sand sifters end up starving in a fish tank including Starfish.(And they make a mess when they die). The best sand cleaners are Strawberry Conch or Blood Mouthed Conch, Strombus (Conomurex) luhuanus.A.K.A. Tiger Conch. They do a great job and will eat left over food as well. Nassarius snails are also a great choice. Your Marine Betta can and probably will eat anything that will fit in its mouth. Think of it as a pretty grouper.

 

i think it is a grouper ?

 

Its in the Plesiopidae family (roundheads which include some Basslets and Longfins).Calloplesiops altivelis