Yellow watchman goby Injury or something else?

[Pudgeshambley]

My goby has large white splotches on him. He has had them for a few weeks. LFS told me it was most likely an injury, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I added a Foxface on August 30th, but nothing has been added since. They seem to get along although he stays in his cave more than he used to. If you notice the goby's fin, it was previously injured by my clownfish that I rehomed, but it never fully grew back and not related to the current issue.

Ammonia 0
Nitrate 12
Nitrite 0
Salinity 1.026
Temperature 77

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedic

 

[vetteguy53081]

My goby has large white splotches on him. He has had them for a few weeks. LFS told me it was most likely an injury, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I added a Foxface on August 30th, but nothing has been added since. They seem to get along although he stays in his cave more than he used to. If you notice the goby's fin, it was previously injured by my clownfish that I rehomed, but it never fully grew back and not related to the current issue.

Ammonia 0
Nitrate 12
Nitrite 0
Salinity 1.026
Temperature 77

This is a bacterial issue and may have stemmed from a previous injury but verify your water quality mainly PH, ammonia and nitrate using a NON- Api test kit as I suspect this is the tests you are using. Your LFS may be able to test for you with a non-Api test kit although if coral and inverts are doing well, may not be a water issue. Best treatment is Seachem Neoplex in a separate tank . Ruby Rally Pro may work also but take longer

 

[Pudgeshambley]

This is a bacterial issue and may have stemmed from a previous injury but verify your water quality mainly PH, ammonia and nitrate using a NON- Api test kit as I suspect this is the tests you are using. Your LFS may be able to test for you with a non-Api test kit although if coral and inverts are doing well, may not be a water issue. Best treatment is Seachem Neoplex in a separate tank . Ruby Rally Pro may work also but take longer

The water was tested by the LFS using the API aquaspin. I am not sure how accurate those are but everything looks fine and the tank has been up for 3 years. I do weekly water changes so the parameters stay fairly consistent. I have Hanna Checkers for Nitrate and PH that I can use to double check if needed. How did he get the bacterial infection? Will using Neoplex in the display help? I am not sure if I can catch the goby to move him to another tank and don't want to further injure him.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

The water was tested by the LFS using the API aquaspin. I am not sure how accurate those are but everything looks fine and the tank has been up for 3 years. I do weekly water changes so the parameters stay fairly consistent. I have Hanna Checkers for Nitrate and PH that I can use to double check if needed. How did he get the bacterial infection? Will using Neoplex in the display help? I am not sure if I can catch the goby to move him to another tank and don't want to further injure him.

Is the goby still feeding well? They are prone to these large areas of bacterial infection.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Is the goby still feeding well? They are prone to these large areas of bacterial infection.

I am not sure. He used to come out and perch on the rocks during feeding time so I would see him eat. This behavior has slowly changed since adding the Foxface on August 30th. The Foxface would get to the food first, but I usually feed enough that eventually the goby gets enough also. Recently the goby has mainly stayed in his cave even during feeding. However he doesn't look like he is getting skinnier to me but I am not positive. This has been going on for several weeks.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Is the goby still feeding well? They are prone to these large areas of bacterial infection.

He also used to peck at the sand constantly which I no longer see him do. But I don't know if he is doing it while I am not observing the tank. I assume he must still be doing it some so that he gets some food. Or he is grabbing a chunk while I am feeding and returning to his cave.

 

[MnFish1]

Additionally, how old is the fish - their life expectancy is not all that long - and may predispose to these types of issues?

 

[JayM]

Additionally, how old is the fish - their life expectancy is not all that long - and may predispose to these types of issues?

I was under the impression that a YWG could typically live a decade or more with proper care.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Additionally, how old is the fish - their life expectancy is not all that long - and may predispose to these types of issues?

I have had him almost three years. I think he was already full grown when I got him so I don't know how long the LFS had him. They are an exotic pet store so not solely fish. Therefore I don't know if they fish sell as much as other places.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have had him almost three years. I think he was already full grown when I got him so I don't know how long the LFS had him. They are an exotic pet store so not solely fish. Therefore I don't know if they fish sell as much as other places.

I didn’t realize that this was a long term captive, that rules out a number of issues. The foxface is symptom free? I’m worried maybe that fish brought something into your tank. At this point, I’d agree with Neoplex in a treatment tank as one option.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

I didn’t realize that this was a long term captive, that rules out a number of issues. The foxface is symptom free? I’m worried maybe that fish brought something into your tank. At this point, I’d agree with Neoplex in a treatment tank as one option.

The Foxface had fin rot shortly after I bought him. I treated with Neoplex in his food for two weeks and it went away. The Foxface has a place on his tail but I think it's an injury. He has had one before that looked similar and went away.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

The Foxface had fin rot shortly after I bought him. I treated with Neoplex in his food for two weeks and it went away. The Foxface has a place on his tail but I think it's an injury. He has had one before that looked similar and went away.

Neoplex in the water is better/safer than in the food. Getting the dose correct in an oral dose is tough. None of my formularies give an oral dose for this.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Neoplex in the water is better/safer than in the food. Getting the dose correct in an oral dose is tough. None of my formularies give an oral dose for this.

Is there anything I can dose in the main display tank that will help? I do have one shrimp and some crabs.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Is there anything I can dose in the main display tank that will help? I do have one shrimp and some crabs.

No, antibiotics shouldn't be dosed in a main tank, they can disrupt the various bacteria cycles.

 

[MnFish1]

I was under the impression that a YWG could typically live a decade or more with proper care.

Correct - However, if the OP had the fish for 6-7 years (or it was caught as an adult) - I was just making the point that it could be in part age-related. (Some of the other described symptoms) - as well as susceptibility to infections such as this appears to be. (Sorry my post was a little unclear)