White patch on yellow watchman goby...

[noobzy]

Hey folks,

Could use some help figuring out what this white patch is:

Trying to decide whether to leave him in there or take him out

Some more info:

• He's a new addition to the tank.
• He's been swimming near the top of the tank this morning, which I understand is somewhat odd behavior for him.

Please help. Thanks!

 

[mcnuggget]

stress related?
i dont think its parasitic. i would just just it alone.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

yes listen to mcnugget he knows EVERYTHING.."just just it alone" Whatever the hell that means.

Honestly it looks to me like he is missing skin he could be sick or he could have got scratched on a rock or something keep a close eye on him.

 

[reefman]

i think mcnugget means " just leave it be". move it would cause more stress to the fish.
i agree.

 

[TripleT]

How long has the tank been set up?

What are your water parameters?

How sudden did these patches appear? Did he look fine when you purchased him?

What other fish are in the tank, and are they showing any signs of stress? Heavy breathing?

What are you feeding him, and how often?

If needed, are you prepared to do a water change? I'd get some salt mixing ASAP.

 

[noobzy]

Thanks for the prompt replies. No mention of obvious illness makes me feel better.

Since I originally posted, he's finished swimming near the surface and has settled inside the rockwork - I can barely see him looking out at me now. Seems like much more "watchman"-like behavior.

How long has the tank been set up?

What are your water parameters?

How sudden did these patches appear? Did he look fine when you purchased him?

What other fish are in the tank, and are they showing any signs of stress? Heavy breathing?

What are you feeding him, and how often?

If needed, are you prepared to do a water change? I'd get some salt mixing ASAP.

Today's readings:
0 Ammonia
0 Nitrate
0 Nitrite
7.8-8 pH
also, Kenya trees are both open and happy...

Purchased last night. As far as I know, he was like this when I got him; couldn't see him clearly enough to realize it until I got home.

2 clowns, both of them in great health, showing no distress.

Fed him some flakes and pellets last night right after he was acclimated. He took a few bites. I'll try to feed him again later tonight.

Doing a scheduled 15% water change later today.

 

[TripleT]

0 nitrate sounds suspicious. The hairy stuff growing on your sand... also a bit suspicious.

How old is your nitrate kit? What kind of skimmer are you running? How often are you doing water changes?

I'd get a new nitrate kit to verify your results.

Your PH is a bit low. Intentional? How did you acclimate him? I wonder if he's suffering from any PH shock.

Hanging out by the top could signal a lack of oxygen. Do you have good flow in your tank?

I would feed him a few times a day, and soak in supplements every few feedings. This could make a big difference and boost his immune system. Maybe some mysis soaked in selcom or zoe overnight. Gobies also love cyclops.

A varied diet is best.

If he seems to be getting worse, I'd also do a larger water change than 15%. Make sure to mix the salt for at least a day.

Good luck!

 

[noobzy]

0 nitrate sounds suspicious. The hairy stuff growing on your sand... also a bit suspicious.

How old is your nitrate kit? What kind of skimmer are you running? How often are you doing water changes?

I'd get a new nitrate kit to verify your results.

Your PH is a bit low. Intentional? How did you acclimate him? I wonder if he's suffering from any PH shock.

Hanging out by the top could signal a lack of oxygen. Do you have good flow in your tank?

I would feed him a few times a day, and soak in supplements every few feedings. This could make a big difference and boost his immune system. Maybe some mysis soaked in selcom or zoe overnight. Gobies also love cyclops.

A varied diet is best.

If he seems to be getting worse, I'd also do a larger water change than 15%. Make sure to mix the salt for at least a day.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info on feeding! Right now, I alternate pellets with mysis. I'll look into getting him some cyclops.

Btw, he's still hanging out inside the rock work.

I guess I could get a new nitrate kit - I do still get nitrate spikes periodically, but I assumed that the algae growth was leading to less nitrates in the water. The green hairy stuff is not in the sand, but on the acrylic - little pieces like that slowly accumulate on the walls until I brush them off with a mag.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Any new clowns purchased recently? Just a word of caution because it had happened to me once. I purchased a wild caught clown though i had no idea it was wild caught at the time untill i noticed my diamond goby acting strange. Turned out my fish got infected with a disease called clownfish disease(brooklynosis or brooklynella). You may want to look it up in the event. Starts out like a patch of slime comming off the fish and it progress's rapidly. If it's not, then now you learned something new too. Just like i did. But the hard way. Hope it is not anything serious.

 

[noobzy]

Any new clowns purchased recently? Just a word of caution because it had happened to me once. I purchased a wild caught clown though i had no idea it was wild caught at the time untill i noticed my diamond goby acting strange. Turned out my fish got infected with a disease called clownfish disease(brooklynosis or brooklynella). You may want to look it up in the event. Starts out like a patch of slime comming off the fish and it progress's rapidly. If it's not, then now you learned something new too. Just like i did. But the hard way. Hope it is not anything serious.

No new clownfish introduced recently.

Random tangent though, I actually did look this up recently, along with marine velvet, after seeing a particularly bad outbreak of something that looked like it at a local Petco. Very sad

 

[KathyC]

I wouldn't buy anything from the Petco you mention, marine velvet is a particularly nasty disease.

He isn't suffering from pH shock, if he was, he'd be dead.

I wouldn't much worry about going out and buying a new nitrate kit, it's probably just fine, tho do watch your parameters and if you tend to overfeed (the stomach of a fish is about the size of it's eyeball), you may want to increase the size of your water changes and feed a little less.
I will assume your tank was recently set up. How long has it been set up please?

As long as your fish is acting normally and eating well, I'd leave him be and allow him to settle into the tank.
It is not uncommon for Gobies to fade in color, especially when they are new to a tank and feeling stressed.
Do however let us know if the patches look like they are slimey.

Can you post a pic of your dispaly tank ?

 

[noobzy]

I wouldn't buy anything from the Petco you mention, marine velvet is a particularly nasty disease.

He isn't suffering from pH shock, if he was, he'd be dead.

I wouldn't much worry about going out and buying a new nitrate kit, it's probably just fine, tho do watch your parameters and if you tend to overfeed (the stomach of a fish is about the size of it's eyeball), you may want to increase the size of your water changes and feed a little less.
I will assume your tank was recently set up. How long has it been set up please?

As long as your fish is acting normally and eating well, I'd leave him be and allow him to settle into the tank.
It is not uncommon for Gobies to fade in color, especially when they are new to a tank and feeling stressed.
Do however let us know if the patches look like they are slimey.

Can you post a pic of your dispaly tank ?

I don't buy livestock from Petco... I just find myself in them more often than not because my gf adores conures and finds every possible excuse to go make new friends

I have a tank thread with all the info (and a relatively up-to-date FTS), but in short: the tank is new; I moved from a 10g Eclipse to this Nano wave 9 a few weeks ago (the eclipse was set up for a few months before the switch).

All the algae is a result of my overfeeding and a currently empty fuge.

I asked about the patch on the goby because I had just purchased him and wasn't sure whether I should keep him or immediately return him. His condition is not a result of being in my tank.

 

[KathyC]

I'm sorry if you misunderstrood, not at all implying the patches on the goby are due to your tank!!

I did want to ask how he is doing

 

[noobzy]

I'm sorry if you misunderstrood, not at all implying the patches on the goby are due to your tank!!

I did want to ask how he is doing

I just wanted to provide as much info as possible. I appreciate the help!

I'm not sure how he's doing, honestly... I can only see him when he peeks out at me from inside the rocks. I've seen him eat, and I've continued to overfeed just to make sure he gets enough, but he hasn't come out into the open since that first day.

 

[noobzy]

Update: 2 weeks later

Thanks again for the help! My goby is looking much better, even if his back doesn't look 100% better yet

I left the poor little fella alone, as we discussed. He's been hiding inside the rockwork, barely ever peeking out, until this past week when he's started coming out a bit more. Still haven't figured out how to make him eat... he seems to scavenge on his own, mostly at night, and never comes out for mealtime.

(please try to ignore the crazy amount of hair algae - it looks better now, honest!)

 

[aznt1217]

Hey Dude,

Nothing to worry about... But as a heads up...HE might be turning into a SHE.

 

[noobzy]

Gobys do that too?? lol What makes you say it though?

I was wondering if it was a he or a she... maybe we jumped the gun by naming it Gabby?

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

just my 2 cents.

i have a yellow watchmen who i have in one of my tanks for months. start yellow but now hes white with spots. starting to resemble a spotted goby. kinda weird.

and he seems as happy as a pig in shyt at the same time too

 

[aznt1217]

Gobys do that too?? lol What makes you say it though?

I was wondering if it was a he or a she... maybe we jumped the gun by naming it Gabby?

I say this because mine did the same... Except she's all white. That and I asked a fish ecologist.