California native goby?

[stingray4540]

Has anyone ever heard of the california native goby? It accidentally came with a ghost shrimp shipment at my lfs. They aren't allowed to sell it so she gave it to me. She says she has a couple in her freshwater tank. I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get info on these things or if anyone has experience with them. It may be called something else but this is what the lady at the lfs called him.

[stingray4540]

ANyone?

[TetraFreak]

Perhaps if you can post a pic of the new addition someone may be able to correctly identify it!

[stingray4540]

I'll try, but he's so small I don't know If I'll be able to get a good pic.

[reiverix]

One of my LFS frequently has darters shipped in with their ghost shrimp.

[stingray4540]

Thanks I'll look that up.

[stingray4540]

Hey! I think I figured it out! I think it's a male tidewater goby, looks a lot like this http://www.fws.gov/cno/arcata/es/fish/goby.html I wasn't able to find anything on darters would you mind providing me a link reiverix. If it is a tidewater goby no wander she couldn't sell it there endangered and native to california. I guess they are found in brackish and fresh water so I'll see how he does in my tank for now. Shsh don't tell anyone I don't want to go to jail. :joke:

[OrionGirl]

I'd suspect that it was called that to ID it as a goby native to California, rather than as a moniker. There are only 3 species of freshwater goby in CA, and 2 of the three will go between brackish and fresh, while the 3rd is endangered. I'd suspect the fish is a darter. There are lots of books on the FW fish of CA, as well as many resources online.

[stingray4540]

could you tell me where you got your info I'd like to learn more also I have not been able to find much on darters through a search engine. A link would be greatly appreciated.

[reiverix]

Iowa darter (http://www.nativefish.org/articles/Iowa.php)
Orangethroat darter (http://www.nativefish.org/articles/OrangethroatInAquarium.php)

[stingray4540]

Ah! now I don't know what it is. the darters and gobies look just like each other. Well I guess I'll just have to keep doing some research. I tried to take a pic but it is so small and so well camoflaged you can't hardly see it.

[Veneer]

Unless your LFS also deals in endangered Syncaris pacifica, its FW feeder shrimp probably originate outside of California.

[stingray4540]

I'm not sure where the ghost shrimp originate but I know that they are kept outside at the supplier wich is in california. The most logical reason why it got in there was probably from a bird or something like that.