Watchman Goby/Health 4/1/09
Hi Crew,
<Hello Kiana.>
I hope you can help me with my question/concern. I have a Yellow Watchman Goby that I added to my tank in October 2008. A few months after I got him, he somehow managed to jump into the pump area of my 6 gallon Nano tank and get trapped in the fan. His front lower half portion of his mouth got ripped off so it looks like he never closes his mouth. Fortunately he managed to continue eating and I would feed him shrimp once a week with a baster.
This morning when I went to feed him, I noticed his mouth, near his chin area, appears sliced down the middle or looks ripped in half. He is having a very difficult time eating and I tried feeding him shrimp with the baster again. He tries to take the food but has a hard time keeping it in his mouth. I am very upset because I am worried my Goby is going to starve to death and die. Is there anything I can do to help him get his nutrients and add anything to the water to sustain him. I currently am using Vita Chem in the water to provide some additional nutrients but was wondering if there is anything you can recommend for me to do, as I love this little guy dearly.
<I am very sorry to hear that Kiana, but unfortunately, other that what you are doing, there is nothing I could recommend to help you further. I would continue on with what you are doing and hope for the best. If this fish should die, I would not replace
with another, as your tank is a little on the small side for keeping this fish.>
Thanks for your help and insight!
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Regards,
Kiana

Listless yellow watchman goby 8/18/08 I have a 75G tank with live rock 20G refugium, some LPS coral, soft coral, scopas tang, ocellaris clown, royal gramma, blue damsel and, a pair of neon gobies. As for inverts I have 2 brittle stars, <Mmmm, what species?> 15 red leg hermits, 30 tiny Nerite snails, and 20 Astrea snails. After 6 months of having my watchman in the tank it went from bright yellow to muted yellow with stripes and small blue spots the length of the body staggered along the lateral line. <Happens> He or she has looked like that for over 2 years now. It mostly hides but is active at various times of the day and always feed normally. But now the little guy has been laying open on the bottom and not eating for three days. It also looks to be breathing fast and shallow. I just added the Nerites and am concerned that they may have carried a parasite with them. <Possibly> So much for QT if that's the case. Not sure if a freshwater dip or medication will help and I am reluctant to stress it out any more than necessary. Any advice will help, thanks. <Mmm, well, it looks like this fish has been beaten/brutalized (the white mark on its right gill area) and the substrate is really too large to suit it... needs fine sand, the life it fosters... Do you have another place to put it? Perhaps in the refugium? Bob Fenner>

Re: Listless yellow watchman goby Sorry for not mentioning it but the large white spots in the image are small tube worms on the glass near the section of the tank he was hiding in at the time. <Ahh!> Externally he appears to be in great shape no real change in appearance other than the breathing. The change is all behavioral, That's what has me stumped. <Still, rapid, shallow breathing IS a bad sign...> But I do like the idea of the refugium move as a possible solution. He has always been a bit of a loner when it comes to the other tank mates. Thanks James <The move sounds good. BobF>

Diamond watchman goby...   hlth. 04/11/2008
Hello!
<<Jacy>>
I have a 29 gallon salt water tank, established for 2 years. I have a osc. clown, skunk clown, 2 PJ cardinals, 3 chromis, a 7 line wrasse & my
diamond watchman goby.
<<Wow, a heavy bio-load for a 29 gallon>>
All appears well in the tank except for the fact that
the goby seems to be bruised around his mouth (specifically his upper lip, only on one side). He does dart around very quickly to eat & does bash into the aquarium or the live rock from time to time. Also, we have noticed that the chromis have begun ganging up on him. Could it just be a bruise or perhaps something more serious?
<<In such confines, this will be caused by an act of aggression.. bruising or abrasion>>
He seems normal, is eating well & sifting the sand, & moving things around in the tank. Your thoughts please!
Thanks! Jacy
<<Do please conceder a larger home in the near future Jacy, your livestock will thank you for it. Regards, A Nixon>>

Cloudy Eye on Watchman Goby - 10/8/07
Hello All! <Hello there, Brian!> Thanks for all of the EXCELLENT info!! <You’re very welcome!> I have recently added to my 90g FOWLR (after Q) a blue spot watchman goby <Neat fish> who has developed a cloudy right eye over the last two days. His hidey hole is in close proximity to a pesky Aiptasia, do you think he/she may have been stung by it creating the eye ailment? <It's possible> I have several other fish <Have they shown any signs of aggression towards the goby?> that show no signs of this problem and my water params are stable/ideal, can you please help clue me in on what direction to take?
<Does sound like some sort of physical trauma rather than a water quality issue (since it’s only in the one eye). I would monitor, keep water conditions pristine, and make sure this fish gets plenty of good quality/enriched foods (a vitamin supplement, such as Selcon, would be good here). Hopefully, he’ll be better in a couple of days!>
Thanks!!! Brian
<My pleasure, Brian -Lynn>

Re: Watchman Goby not acting goby like 6/6/07
Thanks so much...
<Welcome! You're quick!>
I only have a small perc clown and a PJ cardinal (also small) in the tank.
Two hermits and a turbo snail.
Everything just ignores him.
<Sounds good.>
I only disturb their lifestyle to feed, and occasionally replace pieces of coral that the snail decides to rearrange.
I apologize for the timing.
<Just bustin' your chops.>
He was in QT for 9 days and then has been in the display tank for two weeks (it always helps to check the calendar). I followed the directions on the Maracyn, which was to dose for 5 days. After the 5 days, I replaced the carbon filter and let him hang out for 4 more. I usually QT for two weeks, so this was coming up just short of.
<If time isn't a problem, I would QT for longer. I also advocate treatment (which includes observation after symptoms fade) lasting 3-5wks.>
I only started trying to persuade him to move in the past day, because I was worried, and wanted to see what his response would be if I tried to move him.
<Understood.>
I would take him out and treat again with Maracyn, but I am afraid of overstressing with another move.
<Probably the right move, here. Why risk more stress with a move to a less favorable site? Let's just watch and wait and consider what we see. I should ask, how large is this setup? Is it configured to be conducive to watchman goby burrowing (soft sand, caves, etc.)? >
Thanks again for the advice and quick reply.
<Thank you!>
If you have any other suggestions, I am always up for great advice :)
Thanx!!
Rachael Moore
<Have you tried switching your car insurance to Geico?
-GrahamT>

Re: Watchman Goby not acting goby like 6/6/07
Either you have only a few interesting sick fish questions, or this is the best sick goby question ever... I can't believe the response time.
<Maybe all the other Q's were out of my league, or maybe I have a thing for gobies. Actually, I had a feeling your system was small and I can relate to the "need" to throw the fish into the display and "see what happens". Fortunately for my service accounts, and my fishies, I got over it.>
Incidentally, I switch my car insurance every month, just so I can go back to Geico. (If only I liked Australian geckos that much:))
The setup is small...
20gal cube, 3in sand bed, 15 lbs live rock, several corals (hammer, torch, zoanthid, bubble, star polyps, xenia, Acropora) small powerhead,
hang on AquaClear filter... that about covers it. Not anything horribly impressive, but I thought it would be a good goby home.
<We'll wait and see how it turns out, but these gobies are usually happier with a little more space. They do get larger than a 20g will comfortably accommodate...>
The next step was going to be to wait a month or two and add a pistol shrimp, but if I don't have a happy goby... that idea is out.
<You also never know if the pair will, well, pair.>
Don't worry about the chop bustin...I have to work at being patient. I still have a way to go.. so you weren't far off in your bustin :)
<Good luck!
P.S. You might try a different test kit or bringing some water to your LFS for corroboration (sp?) on the nitrates. Your bioload is rather high...>
Thanx!!
Rachael Moore
<-GrahamT>

Dilemma with blue spotted watchman goby  6/4/07
Two nights ago, my blue spotted shrimp goby began acting very strange or sick, and yesterday became pale. He has been very interesting and healthy in the two years I've had him. Never one problem. He is paired up with a pistol shrimp and they are quite amazing to watch. The other night the goby was slumped over in front of the main tunnel of the cave. He looked wore out I did not think he would make it through the night. This came on out of nowhere. The next day, he was outside the cave with the shrimp as usual, but unresponsive to any movement outside the tank....very unusual.
<... What is influencing this fish?>
He does not seem anywhere near lethargic as he was, but still seems pale. Last night after observing him for hours, he seems at times to remember the cave openings, goes to them, then becomes disoriented. He acts as if he knows where he is, then moments later, wonders to a part of the bottom of the aquarium as if he is looking for the cave opening, but it's nowhere near there. He remains at
this time dwelling slowly about. He never left his shrimp's side; now he is wondering far past the shrimp and goes in circles as if confused or blind. Generally when you would come close to him he would swim swiftly into the cave, and at times you could go right up to him. Right now you can be right up to him at the glass and make many quick movements and he does not flinch. Is it possible that he went blind and if so how? Can you please help with any information as to what could be troubling this healthy interesting goby? Thank you.
<I wish I could... is this "old age"?... Are there other fishes present? How are they behaving?>
I did try every option possible for seeking an explanation on the website. Nothing came close in FAQ or chatrooms. Registering on the site was unavailable also. I really need help.
Cindy R
<The "usual", S.O.P. of water changes, testing, food supplementation, possibly use of chemical filtrants is about all I would advise here. Bob Fenner>