Sick gobie

[Susan987]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank. My firefish has always been a little weak. He did go missing about 10 weeks ago for 1 week and reappeared with a missing eye. Otherwise, he was doing well. Yesterday I noticed his behavior changed. He began swimming to the other side of the tank. Today, he is just laying on the sand and breathing hard. He does go to eat food and will get out of the way if a hermit passes by him. His color looks good, he has no spots on him. pH is 8.2, salinity is 1.0235, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are all 0. All of my other fish are doing well. Any thoughts?

 

[snorvich]

What other fish are in the tank? What inverts?

 

[Susan987]

others

others

Foxface, clown, purple firefish, bass, wrasse, plus snails, hermits and a cleaner and peppermint shrimp. Everyone else is happy and acting normal.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Could be aggression with the bass or wrasse.

 

[Susan987]

I thought he was dead, but with lights out, he came out. Other fish leave him alone except purple firefish. I want to not stress anyone in the tank, but I want my red firefish to be left alone.

 

[ReeferBill]

Can you catch and make a small holding container out of a liter soda bottle and just drill holes in it for circulation until better.

 

[snorvich]

Two firefish are not long term stable. Works for a few months. What you are seeing is one firefish intimidating the other. Will continue until the passive one starves to death.

 

[Susan987]

That is not what I wanted to hear. ReeferBill, do you have a picture of the liter bottle?