Diamond Goby Question

[clowninaround7474]

I've had this guy for months, he's healthy, fat and keeps the sand spotless. I did a water change today and noticed he was acting weird. It seems that he has something stuck in his gills. He has been opening his mouth very big and shaking violently trying to get whatever's in there, out. He hasn't been sifting much sand today and is just kind of cruising the sand bed.

I have fine sand in the tank so I'm not sure what it could be. I feel helpless since it's not like I can do anything... But was wondering if anybody else has had this happen to them before? What was the outcome?

 

[Munch]

Mine uses my blood shrimp to pick clean his mouth, have any inverts that do regular mouth cleaning?

Hopefully he'll dislodge it on his own.

 

[clowninaround7474]

Yea I have a fire shrimp that is completely antisocial. It never comes out of its hole.

I'm hoping it can dislodge whatever's in there. I've been trying to see what it could be when he opens his mouth wide and I can't see anything. Very weird

 

[clowninaround7474]

Bump... Has anybody else had this happen? He's out and about today but still working to get whatever is stuck, out. He's not sifting the sand at all but I did get him to eat pellets.

 

[Munch]

Have a fish trap, any chance you can catch him?

 

[clowninaround7474]

I don't have a trap. He's way too fast to catch and he has endless tunnels and hiding spots.

 

[ialtalal]

I don't have a trap. He's way too fast to catch and he has endless tunnels and hiding spots.

Let me know if you need one bro

 

[clowninaround7474]

I wouldn't even know what to do if I caught him. I'd likely do more harm than good trying to perform fish operations haha

 

[Munch]

It's likely a snail shell, no?

 

[clowninaround7474]

It has to be something small because I don't see anything in his mouth or protruding from his gills. He still is able to breath and the gills move but something is pis*ing him off

 

[clowninaround7474]

Well whatever it was, it seems like he got it out on his own. He's back at it today sifting away like nothing ever happened. Man this hobby makes me feel like a parent, worried for my children haha!