Yellow Watchman Goby - "Tong Trained"

We've had our goby for a month or so now. He never came out at feeding time before and just sifted through the sand with his pistol shrimp in tow. Recently, I noticed him coming out of his hole more at feeding time and trying to get tidbits off the sand bed. I tried to target feed him with the tongs, but he freaked out and dove back into the hole. He would dart back in the hole if I even touched the water with the tongs at first. I gradually started lowering the tongs with a little bit of Rod's and releasing the food. It took a few days, but he actually waits on the tongs now and is eating right out of the tongs! It's so cool! Maybe I'll take on lions and tigers next......or maybe not.

 

Neat. I have been trying to train my PJ cardinal to eat off my feeding stick. He won't eat pellets and he hides under a koralia, so not a whole lot of food makes it his way. My Royal Gramma isn't afraid of the stick though.

 

very cool! Can you get Jwin to take a pic/video while you are feeding?

 

Now, start shortening the distance between the end of the tongs and your hands. Pretty soon you won't need the tongs at all

 

Thats pretty neat.

I just got a pink spotted watchman goby, and hes not eating much. But occasionally gets a flake. I gotta spot feed him some marine cusine or something

 

No thank you! ;D

 

Here's a pic Jwin took. Of course, the goby decided to emerge out of one of the back tunnels at feeding time instead of the front - it's not easy for 2 people to maneuver tongs and a camera up against the wall!

 

The goby is so funny. He now stands straight up on his tail at feeding time, waiting for the tongs to descend from the heavens! Spoiled goby.

 

Aww, why not? I hand feed most of my fish . The clowns, tang, and cleaner shrimp will take from my fingers without hesitation. I am close with the mandarin. Its comfortable coming within about a half an inch now, hopefully in two weeks it will be eating from my hand as well. The firefish is the only one I have had no luck with.

 

very cool and that is a really pretty goby! stands on his tail? I'd say very healthy too