Randalls Goby seems to by dying

Lancia037 · Nov 13, 2020

Just picked up a Randall's goby on Sunday and he seems to be dying. Initially was eating, stopped yesterday and has started swimming erratically! Parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites 10 nitrates . 1.026 salinity and 25c temp.

Other fish are two clowns and a peacock wrasse.

I noticed there is a small skin flap on his tail. Any ideas of what I can do ?

Poor little guy. All other fish are fine.

Lancia037 · Nov 13, 2020

He'd also started swimming erratically and laying on the sand on his side

Jay Hemdal · Nov 14, 2020

Hi, sorry - I missed your post yesterday. I'm not sure what the flap of skin is, I can't make it out in the photo. However, the goby is VERY emaciated. It could have internal parasites, but here is another option: fish that have been starved begin using their liver for glycogen. This gives them energy, but then, if they do begin feeding, their livers are ruined and they die from liver failure. It is possible that this goby had gone without food too long moving through the supply chain, and once it settled into your tank and began feeding, that caused it to go downhill.

I always hate this - but I don't think there is anything that can be done for it, sorry.

Jay

Lancia037 · Nov 14, 2020

Thanks you for responding, unfortunately he didn't make it past a few hours. He was incredibly thing and it sounds exactly as you say. He had began eating and this was too much. I put the body into freshwater to see any parasites but didn't see any so I'm just praying he hasn't spread anything to the other fish. Yet another reason to set up a cheap quarantine.

How long would you give it before trying another fish?

Many thanks

Jay Hemdal · Nov 14, 2020

If you decide to set up a small QT, and run new fish through it, that will take 50 days, so in that time, if your existing fish show no symptoms, you would be good to add the new fish at that time. My typical quarantine is this: 30 days of copper, then one week of prazi (2x to 3x) and then two weeks of no meds, just observing for issues. It is 100%, but it works for most common fish disease issues.

Jay

vetteguy53081 · Nov 14, 2020

It was super thin and I assume you are using API test kits? All zeros although possible on parameters are very unusual
Alwats ak before purchase to watch the fish eat, assure it is not thin and observe its breathing which should be relaxed, not labored.
Take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test your water for you and to verify your readings for accuracy

Lancia037 · Nov 15, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
It was super thin and I assume you are using API test kits? All zeros although possible on parameters are very unusual
Alwats ak before purchase to watch the fish eat, assure it is not thin and observe its breathing which should be relaxed, not labored.
Take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test your water for you and to verify your readings for accuracy

Thanks for responding. I use the Salifert test kits and the only one the registers is the nitrates at around 10 ( have to look from the side rather than above and divide by 10).

You're absolutely right in observing the fish before buying, something that would have solved this problem!