Catalina goby white spots.

[GoReefin]

Hi all. I've had this guy in the tank for about 7 months now. Always eats like a pig but recently noticed some white spots on fins and body. Doesn't really look like ich to me. The tank recently went through a treatment of ciprofloxacin for BJD with resolution of the BJD.

I have been reading this fish is more cold water and keeping him in warmer water can cause problems with his immune system. I keep my tank at 77 degrees with a chiller and heater. Stable all week and gets up to 78.5 on weekends.

Is this a symptom of his weakened immune system? All my other fish are healthy. Doesn't appear to be brook or ick to me.
Fish is still acting normal and eating like a champ.

 

[nereefpat]

Hmm. I don't know what that is, but that's something I would try to deal with in a hospital tank. I would see if you could get it in a tank in the low 70s.

Fungus in SW fish is pretty rare, but that could be what we're dealing with. I agree that it doesn't really look like a standard case of ich or velvet or brook.

Just in case he hasn't seen this, @Jay Hemdal

 

[SaltwaterGuruNeeded]

Could be a fish biting him.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I saw something similar on my shark nose goby before it died, its fins had gotten very cottony like this:

Other idea could be lympocytosis on yours, the location and size of the spots is possible. It usually happens after stress.
From what I know, these gobies need cooler water, the heat may have to do with it?

 

[GoReefin]

Hmm. I don't know what that is, but that's something I would try to deal with in a hospital tank. I would see if you could get it in a tank in the low 70s.

Fungus in SW fish is pretty rare, but that could be what we're dealing with. I agree that it doesn't really look like a standard case of ich or velvet or brook.

Just in case he hasn't seen this, @Jay Hemdal

Yeah possible fungus. I have access to meds but catching him will be extremely difficult as he hides in the largest rock in my aquarium

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi all. I've had this guy in the tank for about 7 months now. Always eats like a pig but recently noticed some white spots on fins and body. Doesn't really look like ich to me. The tank recently went through a treatment of ciprofloxacin for BJD with resolution of the BJD.

I have been reading this fish is more cold water and keeping him in warmer water can cause problems with his immune system. I keep my tank at 77 degrees with a chiller and heater. Stable all week and gets up to 78.5 on weekends.

Is this a symptom of his weakened immune system? All my other fish are healthy. Doesn't appear to be brook or ick to me.
Fish is still acting normal and eating like a champ.

Yes - Catalina gobies do best at around 65 F. Their lifespans very much shortened at higher temperatures. It could be ich - I've been fooled by this before, the spots look a heck of a lot larger on small fish!

This could be "idiopathic mucus plugs" - some fish, notably tangs, will develop these extruded plugs of skin mucus due to some stressor - could be the heat, could be the cipro. Here is an article I wrote that discusses fish mucus:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/mucus-the-slime-that-binds.793/

I think these could also be xenomas (cysts) from a microsporidian infection. There is however, no treatment for that. Fish can live with it for some time.

Jay

 

[GoReefin]

Yes - Catalina gobies do best at around 65 F. Their lifespans very much shortened at higher temperatures. It could be ich - I've been fooled by this before, the spots look a heck of a lot larger on small fish!

This could be "idiopathic mucus plugs" - some fish, notably tangs, will develop these extruded plugs of skin mucus due to some stressor - could be the heat, could be the cipro. Here is an article I wrote that discusses fish mucus:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/mucus-the-slime-that-binds.793/

I think these could also be xenomas (cysts) from a microsporidian infection. There is however, no treatment for that. Fish can live with it for some time.

Jay

Thanks a bunch for the detailed reply. These spots look more fuzzy and not discreet like I've seen with prior ich infestations. Hopefully just stressed from the cipro. Will continue to monitor him. He's acting 100% normal eats a bunch.

 

[SaltwaterGuruNeeded]

Thanks a bunch for the detailed reply. These spots look more fuzzy and not discreet like I've seen with prior ich infestations. Hopefully just stressed from the cipro. Will continue to monitor him. He's acting 100% normal eats a bunch.

If you do try to catch him, go slowly, and then when he at the right spot, scoop him up fast.

 

[GoReefin]

If you do try to catch him, go slowly, and then when he at the right spot, scoop him up fast.

I tried... several attempts yesterday... did not win. Probably just stressed him out more. Still eating like a champ though. Hopefully he will pull through.

 

[SaltwaterGuruNeeded]

I tried... several attempts yesterday... did not win. Probably just stressed him out more. Still eating like a champ though. Hopefully he will pull through.

Hopefully things work out for you 2.

 

[GoReefin]

Hi all have an awesome update for everyone. So after the weekend I came back to work to see my gobi all healed up. No signs of white spots at all! Leads me to think either A. bacterial which the cipro finally cured or B. Mucous plugs.

 

[Karen00]

Gobies are my favourite fish!! I always get so sad to see gobies that are ill. So very glad yours worked out in a positive way!!

 

[GoReefin]

Gobies are my favourite fish!! I always get so sad to see gobies that are ill. So very glad yours worked out in a positive way!!

Yeah these little guys are awesome

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi all have an awesome update for everyone. So after the weekend I came back to work to see my gobi all healed up. No signs of white spots at all! Leads me to think either A. bacterial which the cipro finally cured or B. Mucous plugs.

Good deal - that rules out xenomas....

Jay

 

[GoReefin]

Hi all just wanted to say that I've had this Catalina Goby for about a year and 3 months now still going strong! Tank water tamp is kept around 76.5 degrees. From what I've learned about the white spots he has them in the mornings some times but they are almost all gone by night time. I'm thinking mucous plugs. Have seen them periodically on him and they do dissapear not sure what else they could be at this point.

 

[i cant think]

Hi all just wanted to say that I've had this Catalina Goby for about a year and 3 months now still going strong! Tank water tamp is kept around 76.5 degrees. From what I've learned about the white spots he has them in the mornings some times but they are almost all gone by night time. I'm thinking mucous plugs. Have seen them periodically on him and they do dissapear not sure what else they could be at this point.

I would try get your Catalina into water if Atleast 70 degrees if not 65 degrees. These fish don’t last long in warm water and really need Atleast 65 degrees to thrive in. If possible try get a Cold water species only tank set up then you’ll have this guy for the whole life span.

 

[Dave1993]

I would try get your Catalina into water if Atleast 70 degrees if not 65 degrees. These fish don’t last long in warm water and really need Atleast 65 degrees to thrive in. If possible try get a Cold water species only tank set up then you’ll have this guy for the whole life span.

i agree with this

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi all just wanted to say that I've had this Catalina Goby for about a year and 3 months now still going strong! Tank water tamp is kept around 76.5 degrees. From what I've learned about the white spots he has them in the mornings some times but they are almost all gone by night time. I'm thinking mucous plugs. Have seen them periodically on him and they do dissapear not sure what else they could be at this point.

Could it be sand/detritus sticking to its mucus?
I agree with the others that these live longer at lower temperatures, but of course your other tank inhabitants might not appreciate that.
There have been some Catalina’s that were captive bred. Rumor has it they have higher temperature tolerances, but I can’t verify that.
Jay

 

[davidcalgary29]

How long do they live? I've had my captive-bred specimen for a year now, in an Evo that runs at 21-22C in a climate-controlled office (no heater).

 

[i cant think]

How long do they live? I've had my captive-bred specimen for a year now, in an Evo that runs at 21-22C in a climate-controlled office (no heater).

They tend to live 2 years which is the average lifespan for many of the smaller gobies.