Help with Citrinis Clown Goby

[SecretiveFish]

Specifically, it is a Gobiodon citrinus that we got from LiveAquaria. When we got this guy, he was huge (bigger than 2 inches)!!! LiveAquaria deems them easy... easy my foot...

He WILL NOT EAT. He is a living skeleton. I have tried: frozen mysis, frozen spirulina brine shrimp, torn up krill, Fauna Marin pellets (I know, these are for corals...) Formula One pellets, Formula Two flakes, Prime Reef Flakes, and frozen blood worms. He will eat a few frozen blood worms but not enough to put weight on, and I am not sure if it is enough to maintain biological processes.

Getting him out of the tank would require a tank disassembly. I do not think a bottle trap would work since he is not very interested in food... and I can almost guarantee the order the other fish in the tank would be caught in. He is not being picked on or bullied at all. What else should I try?

 

[Kentech5]

If you can get live brine shrimp or get eggs to hatch them yourself I have always had luck getting fish to start eating with the wiggly little buggers. They saved a green clown goby of mine in the past.

 

[Betta132]

Can you get blackworms or grindal worms?
Get any live food you can obtain and just give him a lot of it. These guys are easy to keep once they're eating, but sometimes they don't want to eat. A dewormer might not be a bad idea.

 

[SecretiveFish]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have not tried live brine shrimp. I do have some eggs, but I am not sure if they are too old to use... It is worth a shot if nothing else.

Unfortunately, the two of our local pet stores went out of business last year and they had live adult brine shrimp. I have looked for live blackworms in the past, but I can't find a local source. I will look again. Never heard of grindal worms, but I will see if I can find anyone who has some.

 

[Kentech5]

Brine shrimp eggs have a long life due to their protective cysts. They keep longer if kept refrigerated/frozen but I'll bet they'll still hatch just maybe not with the best hatch percentage.

 

[nuxx]

They are a tough species...

Had one not eat for a customer and die.

Ended up sending him a pair as a replacement and they are flourishing in his tank.

He had problems keeping them before and the pair worked out perfect. Maybe having two helps acclimation issues?!?!