Yellow watchman goby concern

[Calebd91]

Little background, started this tank 5 months ago an has gone very well. Started with pair of clowns then slowly added some clean up crew (6 astrea and 1 conch) they have been doing great and went thru the ugly phase and decided I wanted a YWG and pistol shrimp pair. My LFS has not been able to get one in stock for several months and really wasn’t sure about online ordering but I fell into it an ordered the pair from what I thought was reputable place….long story short they arrived very cold in poor packaging an didn’t think they would even make it thru acclimation. And after acclimation they seemed to be “ok” after introduced to tank. They immediately went into hiding and I worried for 3 days, unfortunately I found the goby dead on the 4th day morning an immediately removed him and made a claim. The shrimp has yet to be seen again……not sure if he’s alive an hiding or stuck in a burrow/cave. Got store credit but refused to buy any other livestock online. And as the irony falls my LFS just so happens to get a YWG in stock an I go this past Saturday and pick him up, looks healthy and active in the store. Stayed active on way home all the way thru acclimation.
This is where the concern starts….net him into tank and he goes down to sand bed an is steady swimming around down there for about 20-30 min, then he makes his way up middle ways for a min just swimming around an then goes to the top, not at the surface like for air. Just about inch below surface and is mingling around for awhile. Watched him for several hours an he would never go back down to bottom but for very brief moments. He also took a liking to staying right by the overflow weir. Thought that was pretty odd an just thought maybe he’s not fully comfortable yet, or maybe because he didn’t have a sand bed in his tank at the store and maybe he just was confused still. He did eat some flakes an a bit of thawed mysis.

Fast forward to evening time and before lights fully went out I made one more look around and didn’t see him so I though he may have burrowed or in a cave. Woke up and looked around soon as moonlights come on and he was halfway in and out the overflow wier, soon he saw me looking he swam out no problem…..well come back little later and look again an he’s no where to be found in tank and ended up finding him in the back chamber at the bottom just hanging out….lord I was already worrying now I was really concerned.
Net him out an back into the display and he goes down for a min an sits on a rock an then few minutes later he’s back up top swimming around…..and he’s been doing that all day an still getting close to the overflow at times and now I’m freaking out thinking something may be wrong or am I over reacting an Havnt let him have enough time to get comfortable in new environment?

there has been zero aggression from the clowns, and they have even mingled together at times. He looks fine and no fin damage or spots or anything out of ordinary. Tested water before and after adding him and paramaters look fine. Just kind of freaked out an worried bout losing him while I’m at work or something.

 

[blaxsun]

A mesh covering on the overflow might help keep him out.

 

[Karen00]

Can you take pics of him under white lights? Also a short video might help. Is he still eating? It's possible he's getting used to his environment but for him to not go to the bottom is odd. Did you find the pistol shrimp? You should see signs of burrowing. Also are your water parameters good (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph)? Nitrites aren't as much of a concern in saltwater other than an indicator of a finished cycle.

 

[Calebd91]

Can you take pics of him under white lights? Also a short video might help. Is he still eating? It's possible he's getting used to his environment but for him to not go to the bottom is odd. Did you find the pistol shrimp? You should see signs of burrowing. Also are your water parameters good (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph)? Nitrites aren't as much of a concern in saltwater other than an indicator of a finished cycle.

I can get some this evening of him. He’s been eating fine. No signs of shrimp still.
After lights went out I did a quick look and seen the goby was inside a cave last night, left for work before lights came on but didn’t see him out in the tank anywhere so hopefully he still in his cave sleeping.
Here are my paramaters, i Havnt tested ammonia or nitrites since finishing cycle tho.

 

[Karen00]

I can get some this evening of him. He’s been eating fine. No signs of shrimp still.
After lights went out I did a quick look and seen the goby was inside a cave last night, left for work before lights came on but didn’t see him out in the tank anywhere so hopefully he still in his cave sleeping.
Here are my paramaters, i Havnt tested ammonia or nitrites since finishing cycle tho.

I can't speak for YWG but my Hi Fin goby (which is also a pairing type) very seldom comes out of his burrow. He will dart out for food but it's not like he's out roaming the tank. Try to get pics if possible. It might be hard for the experts to diagnose without them although if he's in a burrow and eating then he's most likely fine. I would try to block off any access to the weir, etc. if you see him up there again.

Did you notice anything on the goby that died? Odd markings, spots, stuff on the skin that shouldn't be there? The concern could be a parasite or something was introduced to the tank which is why pics always help.

 

[Calebd91]

I can't speak for YWG but my Hi Fin goby (which is also a pairing type) very seldom comes out of his burrow. He will dart out for food but it's not like he's out roaming the tank. Try to get pics if possible. It might be hard for the experts to diagnose without them although if he's in a burrow and eating then he's most likely fine. I would try to block off any access to the weir, etc. if you see him up there again.

Did you notice anything on the goby that died? Odd markings, spots, stuff on the skin that shouldn't be there? The concern could be a parasite or something was introduced to the tank which is why pics always help.

Got home after the whites went out so only able to get some pics of him with blues on. He was down on the sand by a little cave entrance. Fed some flakes an he ate them right up, he’s looking like he’s settling in. I was able to put some filter floss up over the weir teeth just in case he gets frisky again tho.
And no the other goby arrived in water that was 62 degrees because the poor bagging job they did leaked and soaked the box and ruined the heating pack, he was in bad shape already an I slowly acclimated him an he kind of livened up but was very pale and swimming poor, I had hopes of recovery but unfortunately was to much of a shock. No signs of disease as of yet.

 

[Karen00]

Got home after the whites went out so only able to get some pics of him with blues on. He was down on the sand by a little cave entrance. Fed some flakes an he ate them right up, he’s looking like he’s settling in. I was able to put some filter floss up over the weir teeth just in case he gets frisky again tho.
And no the other goby arrived in water that was 62 degrees because the poor bagging job they did leaked and soaked the box and ruined the heating pack, he was in bad shape already an I slowly acclimated him an he kind of livened up but was very pale and swimming poor, I had hopes of recovery but unfortunately was to much of a shock. No signs of disease as of yet.

I'm so sorry to hear of your first goby. That's awful but this little guy is looking perky and he's very alert in the video and grabbing food so that's great! He looks like he's doing well. If you notice any changes in a bad way post here right away. Don't wait. Maybe start a new thread. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of you! Hopefully your shrimp is still alive so this guy has someone to pair up with.

 

[wonroc]

by nature they hide. Sometimes i dont see mine for days.

 

[Calebd91]

I'm so sorry to hear of your first goby. That's awful but this little guy is looking perky and he's very alert in the video and grabbing food so that's great! He looks like he's doing well. If you notice any changes in a bad way post here right away. Don't wait. Maybe start a new thread. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of you! Hopefully your shrimp is still alive so this guy has someone to pair up with.

Very unfortunate, but yes this lil guy seems to be doing much better. I may have jumped the gun posting but I was so overwhelmed after losing one I wanted a second opinion from the group. I’m keeping close watch on him so should notice anything soon as possible. I’m going to wait a week or so and if no signs of shrimp I’ll see if my lfs can get one in soon so he can have his little buddy.
thanks to all