I have a diamondback goby and I got him around 2 weeks ago. He’s been missing for a day, I took out all my rocks just to make sure he wasn’t trapped under anything and I searched the sand bed to make sure he wasn’t just hiding but I had no luck. I put back all the rocks and looked behind the tank and he wasn’t there either. Where could he had gone? Is it possible that he was hiding in the sand and now I trapped him?
Goby has gone MIA, help!
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Euphyllia97
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Check if he didn’t jump out (they can go far).
Make sure he is not in your overflow or sump. He could’ve died and been eaten aswell.
The chance you have trapped him in the sand by moving the rocks, seems very small to me.
Make sure he is not in your overflow or sump. He could’ve died and been eaten aswell.
The chance you have trapped him in the sand by moving the rocks, seems very small to me.
My guess if he's not on the floor and the cat didn't eat it (sorry...it happens), it found a nice little hole in one of the rocks to hide in and even though you moved the rock, it's hidden inside so you can't see it. Fish can wiggle into the smallest holes. They like to create burrows with doors. My Diamond gobies drag empty clam shells and bulldoze sand to cover their hideouts and then reemerge the next day. If it does not show in two or three days, I'd worry more.
Yeah, he hasn't been found on the ground. He isn't in the sump or overflow. I don't think he died, he was perfectly healthy and swam around the rocks eating diatom and such. I took the rocks out of the tank and placed them back in afterwards, is it possible I crushed him?
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If it got into the rocks, it can get out. I wouldn't keep disturbing the tank...just observe. Just to clarify, are we talking about the Diamond watchman goby? : https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+220&pcatid=220
If so, they like to tunnel caves in the sand, hide in shells, under rock overhangs that touch the sand, etc., more than they like to hide in holes in rocks that don't touch the sand, but every fish has it's own quirks. They will close up the hole to their cave at night and emerge during the day. Your fish is new, so it might hide a lot until it gets used to its new surroundings.
If so, they like to tunnel caves in the sand, hide in shells, under rock overhangs that touch the sand, etc., more than they like to hide in holes in rocks that don't touch the sand, but every fish has it's own quirks. They will close up the hole to their cave at night and emerge during the day. Your fish is new, so it might hide a lot until it gets used to its new surroundings.
jeffchapok
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They are notorious jumpers. I lost mine within the first 24 hours and had a glass lid at the time. I'm sorry, but my guess is he went carpet surfing and you just haven't found him yet. Look under any nearby furniture - they can flop quite a way.
If not, don't despair. I have a Randall's goby that routinely goes 2 or 3 days without and appearance. But he always shows back up again eventually.
If not, don't despair. I have a Randall's goby that routinely goes 2 or 3 days without and appearance. But he always shows back up again eventually.
Stop looking for the fish.
If he's in the tank, let him get comfortable enough to come out on his own. This may take days to happen.
If he's spooked and in hiding, you tearing the tank up looking for him is not helping.
In this case...
Less is more.
Good luck.
If he's in the tank, let him get comfortable enough to come out on his own. This may take days to happen.
If he's spooked and in hiding, you tearing the tank up looking for him is not helping.
In this case...
Less is more.
Good luck.
ReefGrammie
Must...stay...away...from...live...sales...
Excellent advice! I have a yellow watchman goby, who will disappear for days and even weeks. He lives in the burrows with my pistol shrimp, so I never know when I'm going to see him again. My clown goby has also been known to disappear. He was gone for about a month one time and I finally found him alive and well in the sump!
Well, I know that gobies have a tendency to hide when you first put them in your tank. But I've had him for at least 2 weeks now and I saw nothing about how they'll go into hiding from time to time. But I guess he might be doing that now.
My Yellow Priolepis Goby was front and center in my 29 gal tank for about a year, and then it just disappeared. I thought it had lived out its life and passed quietly somewhere in the rock. I was doing some heavy tank maintenance a few weeks back and what did I find? The Yellow Priolepis Goby - alive and well. I haven't see it for at least 4 months.
Give it some time. If your goby did not go rug surfing; if it's alive somewhere in the tank, hunger will force it out of hiding sooner or later. Just observe, as I said, and allow the fish to settle in and feel comfortable enough to come out when you're there. Many fish come to recognize their owners as the food god and will greet them at feeding time with little tails wagging and mouths pressed to the tank glass. I hope it reemerges for you.
In any event, if you don't have a tight lid on your tank, I would get one.
Give it some time. If your goby did not go rug surfing; if it's alive somewhere in the tank, hunger will force it out of hiding sooner or later. Just observe, as I said, and allow the fish to settle in and feel comfortable enough to come out when you're there. Many fish come to recognize their owners as the food god and will greet them at feeding time with little tails wagging and mouths pressed to the tank glass. I hope it reemerges for you.
In any event, if you don't have a tight lid on your tank, I would get one.
He will be able to get out on his own. As I said, if he got into a hole, he can get out. Observe from afar. If the fish is still in the tank, let it settle in. And you should try not to stress too much. This hobby can drive you to drink if you let it! Wait... Now where the heck did I put my wine glass?
