Bella Goby's mouth not looking so good

[ianryd]

I have had this Bella goby in a 20 gallon QT for 8 days. Today I noticed its mouth seems to be damaged. I think there is skin hanging off the corner of its jaw, and he is just holding his mouth open. My guess is that he got in a fight or banged it on a rock. There are no other signs of injury or disease. It's other tank mates are a blue side fairy wrasse, melanarus wrasse and royal gramma. All seem fairly peaceful and quite healthy. Should I catch the goby and put it in an acclimation box, or leave him alone?

 

[ianryd]

HELP! I came home and it's whole lower jaw is gone! Do I just flush him at this point? He is still alert and responsive. I saw the melanarus take a bite at him.

 

[Katrina71]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!

 

[ianryd]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!

Thank you, do you think there is any hope of trying to keep him alive?

 

[Katrina71]

Thank you, do you think there is any hope of trying to keep him alive?

Sadly, if he is missing his lower jaw, he'll starve. Let some really educated folks chime in.

 

[Katrina71]

#reefsquad

 

[ianryd]

Well, seeing as the fish won't be able to eat, I did the humane thing and put him in a bag of water and put it in the freezer. RIP Bella Goby

 

[Katrina71]

I'm so sorry. Thank you for doing that humanely.

 

[Fin]

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you can do anything at this point, except euthanize the fish. You did it a good way.

 

[ianryd]

So, now what to do about the bully, I put the melanarus in a 2 gallon acclimation box in the QT. I've not seen aggression toward the fairy wrasse and gramma, but I'd hate to see them hurt later. I think the melanarus was aggressive because of the size of the QT. (20 gal) I would imagine that it would get less aggressive in my 75 gal DT. but idk what to do with him in the meantime. My LFS said I could return him if needed. What would you guys do?

 

[Katrina71]

Bye bye Hannibal.

 

[Han]

Sorry to hear that... I’ve never had long term success with bella gobies either, they always got bullied and eventually died. It’s always sad but you did the right thing

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Sorry about the loss, and good way to handle it.

 

[ianryd]

Sorry to hear that... I’ve never had long term success with bella gobies either, they always got bullied and eventually died. It’s always sad but you did the right thing

Thats a bummer, they are really cool fish.