Last October, I bought a yellow watchman goby from Petco. I put it in my quarantine tank, where it died in less than 48 hours. I assumed it had picked something up at Petco that caused its fatality.
Yesterday, after arriving home from a meeting at church, I noticed that my yellow watchman goby was swimming erratically near the surface of the water. He was extremely weak and was easily pulled into the intakes of my filters and powerheads. I immediately recognized trouble and moved him into my quarantine tank.
At reefcentral.com, under the "New to the Hobby" forum, I posted the situation and asked for advice. It was suggested that the goby might be suffering from malnourishment, so I attempted to feed him pellets and frozen brine shrimp. "Doby" showed no interest in the food.
I have kept him successfully in my tank since December. He was purchased from my favorite LFS, who had been caring for Doby since August. He ate successfully for me in the quarantine tank before I introduced him to my tank in December. He ate pellets, flakes, and frozen food with success.
He was easily swept around in the current in my quarantine tank, but he showed a little improvement in swimming. I went to bed, hoping he would pull through over night. This morning, I confirmed my worst fear: Doby died overnight in the quarantine tank.
I have kept him successfully in my tank since December. He was purchased from my favorite LFS, who had been caring for Doby since August. He ate successfully for me in the quarantine tank before I introduced him to my tank in December. He ate pellets, flakes, and frozen food with success.
My tank parameters were (and are now) on target, with an exception to elevated NO3 levels (10 ppm). I suspect this is because of the removal of the biowheel (which led to the withdrawal of my green hair algae problem), but I am not sure.
The only other changes I have made to my tank recently is the addition of two cleaner shrimp, whom I have seen cleaning Doby. When they cleaned the inside of his gills, the goby "flinched" and appeared to be in pain.
Here is the link to my thread on RC, where I have hopefully explained the problem a little more. I am extremely discouraged right now: this is a major emotional and financial blow.
-Matt
Yesterday, after arriving home from a meeting at church, I noticed that my yellow watchman goby was swimming erratically near the surface of the water. He was extremely weak and was easily pulled into the intakes of my filters and powerheads. I immediately recognized trouble and moved him into my quarantine tank.
At reefcentral.com, under the "New to the Hobby" forum, I posted the situation and asked for advice. It was suggested that the goby might be suffering from malnourishment, so I attempted to feed him pellets and frozen brine shrimp. "Doby" showed no interest in the food.
I have kept him successfully in my tank since December. He was purchased from my favorite LFS, who had been caring for Doby since August. He ate successfully for me in the quarantine tank before I introduced him to my tank in December. He ate pellets, flakes, and frozen food with success.
He was easily swept around in the current in my quarantine tank, but he showed a little improvement in swimming. I went to bed, hoping he would pull through over night. This morning, I confirmed my worst fear: Doby died overnight in the quarantine tank.
I have kept him successfully in my tank since December. He was purchased from my favorite LFS, who had been caring for Doby since August. He ate successfully for me in the quarantine tank before I introduced him to my tank in December. He ate pellets, flakes, and frozen food with success.
My tank parameters were (and are now) on target, with an exception to elevated NO3 levels (10 ppm). I suspect this is because of the removal of the biowheel (which led to the withdrawal of my green hair algae problem), but I am not sure.
The only other changes I have made to my tank recently is the addition of two cleaner shrimp, whom I have seen cleaning Doby. When they cleaned the inside of his gills, the goby "flinched" and appeared to be in pain.
Here is the link to my thread on RC, where I have hopefully explained the problem a little more. I am extremely discouraged right now: this is a major emotional and financial blow.
-Matt
