Sick goby (yellow watchman/prawn)

[Dombake]

So I've had this one for about 16 weeks now. Has been feeding well throughout but I noticed about a week ago that he wasn't coming out of his little hole very often. Before tonight I hadn't seen him for 3 days but tonight he was out front, but has lost a some of his colour and doesn't look good. I've tried catching him but he's still got enough about him to avoid that. All my readings are fine (see footer) and these haven't moved for months. I do 20% wc every 14 days as a minimum.

As I can't catch him, I'm a bit lost as to what I can do to try and help him recover from whatever is wrong.

I lost another fish a couple of weeks back for no obvious reason. Other fish and coral are showing no signs of being unhappy.

Any suggestions?

 

[vcam]

https://gyazo.com/50d41983d6bb4889c3723f07d0e80262
Meet my "yellow" watchman goby... They can change to greyish coloring. Some say do to stress, others say due to gender.

 

[Dombake]

Ummm, that could explain the colour, but I just feel it isn't right. Its not moving much except when the net goes in. It has a flat belly still with no indent, which I was told is a good sign of hunger? He has now disappeared back into his hole so I can only hope he's looking fitter when I see him next

 

[vcam]

i'd try to throw a little food into his hole so you know he is getting something at least!

Try to snap a pick if he comes out next time.

 

[davehead86]

What are you feeding?

I feed pellets and the goby cant always get some because of my piggies in the tank. So i feed frozen mysis blocks with a tong right in front of his hideaway. He comes out and eats it like crazy and so does the shrimp. The other fish cant really get at it with the tongs. Leftovers go to the nem. And the floaters go to the other fishies.

Thats anecdotal but could help your guy eat if he is hungry.

 

[BigEZ77]

i'd try to throw a little food into his hole so you know he is getting something at least!

Try to snap a pick if he comes out next time.

And maybe soak in Selcon and garlic beforehand.

 

[Dombake]

Here he is this morning. I know he isn't right as he never sits there and doesn't move when I approach the glass. I feed combination of pellet and frozen, I also have a good pod population.

 

[Leyth]

So mine did the same thing before dying, but his back half had turned whitish. Is he eating? Mine wouldn't eat on his last day.

 

[bat21]

I don't like the sound of this. Maybe he has an internal parasite or something. Maybe try a round of prazipro? I think it's reef safe (I only have a fowlr, so confirm that it's reef safe before trying it)

For feeding I would try to turn the pumps off and drop some food right in front of his face. My watchman will often grab food from the sand.

 

[Dombake]

It's not looking good. He has been in that same spot all day (other than turning occasionally and moving out of way when shrimp or crab passes by). He hasn't moved to eat any food although I did see him mouthing at substrate via my web cam earlier but couldn't be sure if he was eating.

It's strange that he has chosen to come out of his hole and sit front of tank. The guy lived in a hole under a rock since I got him, I wonder if something has forced him out but I don't have anything in there that I think would.

Only thing I have noticed is a fair few digitate hydroids appear over recent weeks, some around by his hole... Could they effect him at all?