Adult Engineer Goby starvation

[Max Elliot]

I've added an Adult Engineer goby, (8-10)in in lenght to my 72 gallon reef tank about 3 weeks ago. I gave it some time by keeping lights off for 24 hours, I have tried feeding it ever since, but it just gets starrtled with me walking up to the tank, since it only sits under a rock and stesses out when I go to feed it with krill using a turkey baster. Just glass surfing or dashing around tank everyday. Still hasent burrowed just lays low to ground and dosent eat. I've checked amonia and nitrite, and still dont know why it hasent settled in,a ny tips on what todo?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've added an Adult Engineer goby, (8-10)in in lenght to my 72 gallon reef tank about 3 weeks ago. I gave it some time by keeping lights off for 24 hours, I have tried feeding it ever since, but it just gets starrtled with me walking up to the tank, since it only sits under a rock and stesses out when I go to feed it with krill using a turkey baster. Just glass surfing or dashing around tank everyday. Still hasent burrowed just lays low to ground and dosent eat. I've checked amonia and nitrite, and still dont know why it hasent settled in,a ny tips on what todo?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you be post a video of it under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well if you cant post directly here. 15 to 30 seconds is good.

The glass surfing isn’t normal. Does the tank have good substrate for it to burrow in?

What is the history of this fish? Did it come from another tank? They usually aren’t imported at this size. Do you know what it was eating before?

 

[Max Elliot]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you be post a video of it under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well if you cant post directly here. 15 to 30 seconds is good.

The glass surfing isn’t normal. Does the tank have good substrate for it to burrow in?

What is the history of this fish? Did it come from another tank? They usually aren’t imported at this size. Do you know what it was eating before

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you be post a video of it under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well if you cant post directly here. 15 to 30 seconds is good.

The glass surfing isn’t normal. Does the tank have good substrate for it to burrow in?

What is the history of this fish? Did it come from another tank? They usually aren’t imported at this size. Do you know what it was eating before?

I use a mix of 1.0 mm-2.0 mm medium coral, about 2-4 in crush, mixed or separated with larger coral crush pieces on the lower or top layers. I've asked my local fish store about it; they said it should be fine. Though I got this adult Goby from another fish store that had 3 others in the same tank, the owner said it eats krill and brine shrimp and even gave me a package of the krill they use, but the goby still doesn't eat.

 

[Max Elliot]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you be post a video of it under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well if you cant post directly here. 15 to 30 seconds is good.

The glass surfing isn’t normal. Does the tank have good substrate for it to burrow in?

What is the history of this fish? Did it come from another tank? They usually aren’t imported at this size. Do you know what it was eating before?

I use a mix of 1.0 mm-2.0 mm medium coral, about 2-4 in crush, mixed or separated with larger coral crush pieces on the lower or top layers. I've asked my local fish store about it; they said it should be fine. Though I got this adult Goby from another fish store that had 3 others in the same tank, the owner said it eats krill and brine shrimp and even gave me a package of the krill they use, but the goby still doesn't eat.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I use a mix of 1.0 mm-2.0 mm medium coral, about 2-4 in crush, mixed or separated with larger coral crush pieces on the lower or top layers. I've asked my local fish store about it; they said it should be fine. Though I got this adult Goby from another fish store that had 3 others in the same tank, the owner said it eats krill and brine shrimp and even gave me a package of the krill they use, but the goby still doesn't eat.

Thanks for the video and info. Unfortunately, I don’t see anything that would be causing this!

I did find a very similar thread, with some speculation as to the cause;

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/engineer-goby-not-eating-for-the-past-week-or-so.1108070/

 

[mcarroll]

I think adults don't take stress that well to begin with, so be patient. (He's not going to starve anytime soon....he's fat!)

But I also think that's not enough rock for this behemoth to feel comfortable. He looks almost as big as your rockwork! ;)

 

[Max Elliot]

Thanks for the video and info. Unfortunately, I don’t see anything that would be causing this!

I did find a very similar thread, with some speculation as to the cause;

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/engineer-goby-not-eating-for-the-past-week-or-so.1108070/

Should I just let time pass for it to settle in? I've checked my tests; all seem fine.
Salinity 0.026
pH 8.0, Nitrate 15ppm
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 410ppm
Temp 78f

 

[cryingrn]

Mine has also gone off feed since I had to move my entire tank into hospital tanks for velvet treatment (plus I had to specifically put him back into a treatment tank for an infection in both eyes). I havent been able to resolve this yet, but just offer some solidarity that engineering gobies going off feed seems to be a normal problem when something about their environment changes.

 

[Mickle]

You need more rock work, he cant even hide

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Should I just let time pass for it to settle in? I've checked my tests; all seem fine.
Salinity 0.026
pH 8.0, Nitrate 15ppm
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 410ppm
Temp 78f

As long as it isn’t getting scraped up by glass surfing, you could wait a bit longer, but then what? You might want to try carefully adding a larger flat rock that it can get under.

 

[Max Elliot]

As long as it isn’t getting scraped up by glass surfing, you could wait a bit longer, but then what? You might want to try carefully adding a larger flat rock that it can get under.

Alr, thanks