Diamond goby survive carpet surfing?

[happyclam]

Well, this kinda sucks. I have had a pair of mated Diamond gobies in my 135g tank for going on 1 year now. They ate mysis shrimp out of a turkey baster and even spawned last month, releasing TONS of tiny swimming "spinal cords". I figured they were settled in, so I took the glass tops off the tank a few months ago to allow better light penetration and gas exchange. That was the worst idea ever (looking back, I should have gotten screen tops).

Anyway, one of them went carpet surfing (or wood surfing in this case, wood floors around tank) last night/morning. The tank is in my bedroom, and I woke up to a loud smack and found the goby on the floor. I assumed he had just jumped out, though I am not sure. There was no water around him and he was not moving at all. I put him back in the tank anyway, and a minute later he started pumping his gillls very slowly. He managed to feebly scoot behind some rocks and I haven't seen him since (now 24 hrs later). Should I assume he is dead? I doubt I will be able to find the body, so are there any ways to help the tank cope with decay of this fish?

Thank very much

 

[RcToners]

Fish are pretty amazing and can come back from a lot of things, I'd give it a bit of time, he might be recovering. I found my diamond goby las week after he went carpet surfing (there was like a 3 inch opening in my tank so IDK how he got out) but he was already jerky by the time I found him behind the tank Hopefully yours lives

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I would give him awhile, he might recover. like it was said, fish are pretty hardy. My roommate had rainbow fish that she took and put into a bucket, and one jumped out. I came home to my cat licking the heck out of the fish and told her what was happening lol. needless to say that fish survived just fine once thrown back into the bucket.

 

[happyclam]

Yeah, I keeping expecting to see him (or her?) pop out whenever I walk by the tank. I will feel sorry for the other goby if the other one does in deed not survive, those 2 were inseperable.

 

[Anthrax15]

I'm sure he is stressed out of his mind and will probably be reclusive for a few days. Some fish instantly act normal after a near death experience, others don't.

 

[happyclam]

Good news! The carpet surfing has been out and eating for the last 2 days and am assuming will be fine. And I will definately be getting some screen tops for the tank. In the meantime I put the old glass versa tops over the tank.