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[Nanogasm]

Hi all,

I picked up a two-spot goby a couple of weeks ago. He was in great health when I grabbed him. However, since his arrival he has been subject to a couple of issues.

I also have a percula clown and an orchid dottyback. I have seen the orchid pick on him on occasion, and one day noticed its back top fin was a little shredded. Perhaps a bite.

However today something more serious was noticed. The goby's left eye looks like he got punched. Sorry I can't post a pic, but description wise.. the area around the eye has turned to a dark circle. The eyeball looks like it developed a cataract (a blue shiny film over top) and is just slightly bulging out. I tested to see if he could see out of it by moving my hand towards that side and he reacted, so he can still see if atleast some what.

Was wondering if anyone can tell from this description if this is some form of disease, or if it might be another sign of combat from the orchid.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Nanogasm]

Well.. after one day, the goby didn't make it. I went to check the tank this morning and saw him dead on the bottom corner. Sigh.. it's my first loss of life..

But now I'm hit with another issue. As I went to grab the fish net, my brittle star fish grabbed him and reeled him into the back of the rockwork.
For me to access him now, I would have to pull most of the corals out to get at him.

What should I do? Having a rotting body isn't good.. but either is disturbing everything. I'll move everything if it is the best way. But I'm not sure which way to go on this. Suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

I am sorry for your loss. Unfortunately it happens to all of us. I wonder if your goby's injury is from trying to rocket out of the tank and getting slammed by whatever you have on the top of your tank (assuming you don't have an open tank). In any event, it sucks.

How big is your tank, and how long has it been up and running? With a decent sized, mature tank I would just let nature run its course. I believe that many if not most of the pollutants were released in your tank before your brittle star got a hold of him.

Any ideas for your next fish?

 

[Nanogasm]

Hi ChrisPrusha, thank for the reply. Sorry about my delay, I got sucked into a blackhole of obligations and was away for a bit.

Turns out I managed to pull the goby's body out using a wooden chopstick. Not sure if it got banged up by jumping and hitting the canopy. I never saw him try, but who knows during the night. I did see the orchid nip at him occasionally.

Not sure what my next fish will be. I have a question about this, hopefully someone can give some advice.

I noticed my orchid dottyback became particulary aggresive to the goby. The Orchid is very peaceful towards my percula clown however. The clown came first, then the orchid, then the goby. Is it due to the order I introduced the fishes and a clash in establishment of territory? Or do two-spot gobies share enough physical similarities with orchids (long slender body) to make cause for aggression?

I ask this to figure out what type of fish to get next. I have only a 24gallon.

Thanks to any who can lend some words.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Unfortunately, in that size tank, the dottyback will bully and harrass anything you try to introduce. They are extremely territorial, even more so in smaller tanks. The Orchid is peaceful towards the clown for the exact reason you stated. He was introduced second, and the clown had already established it's territory. I have no doubt the injuries and death to your goby was caused by the dottyback. I watched a diadema I once had attack and kill a six-line I introduced into an old nano within an hour.

The only thing I can suggest you might try is to remove the dottyback to another tank when you do go for another fish and leave in the other tank for a couple of weeks, then try placing back into your tank.

 

[blue_eyes53813]

If Im gonna add fish ( mind you I use to have a small tank) I would rearrange alittle of the rock work. Helps to make the first fish added to that tank think its not his territory. So if you add anymore than move a few things around first, see if that helps.