Diamond Goby with bent back

[SandJ]

My diamond goby's back has a bend in it. He is acting completely normal. Did notice his tail had some damage a few days ago, had never seen that before and it has started to heal already. Eats LRS frozen food and sometimes black worms, and sifts the sand all day. He is about 6-8" long.

So, just behind his dorsal fin his spine curves to the left and is slightly twisted looking. He is still mostly straight, but when he turns to the left his spine bends a lot more than when he turns to the right (and he seems to make more left turns).

The tank had been up and running for two years when I bought it (so has been running for 3 1/2 years). Has diamond goby, two clowns and a chromis, 3 peppermint shrimp and an 18" brittle star. Have never added any fish. Only added a couple corals, last one was added about a year ago. It is a 36 gallon bow front.

 

[jsker]

That's interesting. Is this just noticed?

 

[melypr1985]

What kind of lid do you have on the tank?

 

[Humblefish]

What kind of lid do you have on the tank?

^^This. Diamond Gobies are notorious jumpers. If he hit the lid in a bad way that could have caused internal damage or even a spinal injury.

 

[SandJ]

That's interesting. Is this just noticed?

Noticed it about a week ago. My daughter and I spent time everyday looking at the tanks. I noticed it one morning and she mentioned it later that same day. So it was a sudden change, but not gotten any worse.

What kind of lid do you have on the tank?

There is a glass lid that I keep half open all the time. I think you are having the same thoughts I am, that he hit something (like the lid/side of tank/rocks). But the injury is kinda in an odd place for that.

I was also thinking fish tuberculosis, but is that only in fresh water?

 

[SandJ]

One other question... Do you think he is too big for my tank? He came with the setup. But he is a larger size diamond goby and I almost feel like he needs a bigger tank :0/

I have a deep sand bed with lots of life, and he has several tunnels under the rocks where he lives. But I know they sift A LOT of sand and I don't want to keep him in too small of a tank.

He is an awesome fish with lots of personality. Plus he keeps the sand bed in great shape lol

 

[Humblefish]

As long as he eats prepared foods and isn't just relying on sand sifting for sustenance, he is fine in just a 36 gallon.

 

[melypr1985]

I do think he's a little large for the tank. I've never heard of one getting to 8 inches though. They typically max out at 6 inches. If you have a larger tank, it might be best for him to move him over to it at some point.

I'm betting he jumped and hit that glass lid pretty hard in just the wrong way. We see it a lot with wrasses and other jumpers. They get a bent spine like that. Sometimes they heal and are able to live with a decent amount of quality-of-life and other times they just don't make it. Healthy foods and vitamins can help this end well, but I think your already doing that.

 

[melypr1985]

As long as he eats prepared foods and isn't just relying on sand sifting for sustenance, he is fine in just a 36 gallon.

You think so? He says it's 8 inches which is a monster and easily the biggest diamond goby I've ever heard of.

 

[Humblefish]

You think so? He says it's 8 inches which is a monster and easily the biggest diamond goby I've ever heard of.

8 inches?! I must have glossed over that part.

 

[SandJ]

I guessed 6-8", but just measured and he is 6" long. About 1" across his body.

He truly is massive. I give him his own portion of frozen food, he will eat directly from the feeding tongs. I target feed the huge brittle star and goby will steal the food from the tongs lol

 

[melypr1985]

I guessed 6-8", but just measured and he is 6" long. About 1" across his body.

He truly is massive. I give him his own portion of frozen food, he will eat directly from the feeding tongs. I target feed the huge brittle star and goby will steal the food from the tongs lol

That sounds more normal. lol I was going to ask what all you were feeding him to get him that big!

 

[SandJ]

That sounds more normal. lol I was going to ask what all you were feeding him to get him that big!

Lol He looks huge compared to the tiny ones we see in the LFS.

Thanks to you all for your help.

I have been thinking of how to make a screen lid to fit the curved fronts of all our tanks (2 36gallon bow fronts and a BioCube 29).

 

[SandJ]

Just thought I would update. We lost Goby today. A few days ago I noticed he was not coming out to eat (always came running out of his cave when the powerhead went off). He would come out occasionally, but not like normal. Then I seen some places on the sand were not as clean as they use to be. Today he came out and did not look good. Very skinny and not able to swim very well. He died a few hours later.

 

[Humblefish]

I hate when fish die

 

[melypr1985]

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[VbReefer]

I had this same exact thing just happen to a very beefy 6" diamond in my 210g. This one LG diamond kept the entire tanks sand bed spotless.

Crooked back, not out like it normally would be. Went from round belly to emaciated.
I believe they both occurred from being crushed under live rock.

Just got a replacement and have it under observation in an otherwise fallow 29g with good live sand.

One of my favorites.

 

[Bennett_Reefing]

Looks like mines going threw the same thing but fortunately these pics are a few days old and he's gained weight. I ordered Lobster Eggs for food anything else I should do? He's been moving around the tank and sifting a ton.