Zebra Bar Gobie - jaw injury

[Lenny_S]

Not sure what caused it or what if anything can be done... But one of my Zebra Bar Gobies has a pretty significant lower jaw injury. He was fine at the morning feeding, but I noticed it this afternoon. These guys dart into the rocks in a flash, so I suppose it could have been that this one zigged when he should have zagged.
I'm fairly certain there is nothing in my tank that could have done this to him. I started the system up a year ago sterile. CUC is 100% snail, no hermits. All coral dipped prior to going in. And current stock is...
Bellus Angel
Swallowtail Angel
Kole Tang
Tenneti Tang
2 Occilaris Clowns
3 Flame Anthias
7 Zebra Bar Gobies
In a 160 gallon DT

I can't get close enough to get a picture much less get the poor guy out of the DT before he goes into the Rock hiding place.

His lower jaw is ripped pretty bad, he can breathe but definitely looks lie he won't be able to eat.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[eatbreakfast]

If he can't eat, that will be a problem, but you would be surprised at how capable an injured fish can be.

Just be wary of secondary infections of the jaw. An infection can continue to 'eat away' at injury.

 

[Lenny_S]

Thanks @eatbreakfast... I'm going to do a small feeding tonight and see if he even comes out of hiding. I'll try to snap a pic if he does.

 

[gashunk]

if its a goby make a goby trap out of a water bottle i know theres a forum here some where that a member did and i dont remeber if it worked or not but just cut the top off a bottle like like a quarter of the way from the top insert food in the base of the bottle and invert the top part on the bottom and the goby should go in there and wont be able to get out until you trasnfer him

 

[eatbreakfast]

if its a goby make a goby trap out of a water bottle i know theres a forum here some where that a member did and i dont remeber if it worked or not but just cut the top off a bottle like like a quarter of the way from the top insert food in the base of the bottle and invert the top part on the bottom and the goby should go in there and wont be able to get out until you trasnfer him

Zebra gobies are a dartfish, so less likely for this method to be a success.

 

[gashunk]

Zebra gobies are a dartfish, so less likely for this method to be a success.

ah okay my bad

 

[Lenny_S]

Well, just did a feeding and the poor guy came out. He was very enthusiastic about trying to eat and did manage (to my amazement) to get a couple of mysis down. I'm soaking in Selcon, so hopefully helps it heal. Managed to snap these pics. [Warning: Graphic content]