Engineer Goby acting odd and not eating; unsure if sick

ReefRoidRage

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One of my juvenile engineer gobies (El Chapo) has been acting out of character the past 3 days or so. I’ve had these 2 gobies for 6-8 months without any issues. Tank has been running about 18 months. About 3 days ago I found Chapo swimming freely around the tank aimlessly and seemingly confused, and at times swimming vertically. Typically Chapo is burrowed in his tunnel.
Yesterday I found him swimming towards the front of the tank near the sand bed, again seemingly confused and not knowing where to go. I moved a rock near where he was staying and he’s taken a liking to it, wrapping his body around it. Still not eating.
Same thing today. Did a 50% water change today (as I needed to regardless) but the behavior has been much of the same. Some labored breathing at times and then perfectly fine. Chapo will also swim around and then come back to his new rock and lay somewhat sideways, which is concerning. I see a few small white spots, but I don’t know if they are new as he’s typically burrowed and only comes out for feeding. But I haven’t seen any signs of flashing or other signs of ich. Doesn’t look like velvet to me and all other fish in the tank are fine.
I have not moved him into a QT yet as I don’t want to unnecessarily stress him out.
Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. I’ve attached a few pics too.
Some of the pictures appear as if there are more spots on him then there actually are as you’re seeing specks on the glass.
6422BC50-21D1-4660-B229-C62A2EF2C2C0.jpeg 333F1B49-8710-4CE1-B87E-09EB8BDD674C.jpeg 622E35AC-968F-48EB-BF36-30C8D02B95F1.jpeg F4D01C29-2598-4C3E-BA67-423BB7E874FC.jpeg 23A483DB-BF09-4A8B-A2F5-7DA6722429D0.jpeg C8F79C99-1BC9-44A6-871C-ABA39F704F49.jpeg 89A331F9-1B40-41DE-B2E7-7CC1722448FD.jpeg
 

vetteguy53081

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One of my juvenile engineer gobies (El Chapo) has been acting out of character the past 3 days or so. I’ve had these 2 gobies for 6-8 months without any issues. Tank has been running about 18 months. About 3 days ago I found Chapo swimming freely around the tank aimlessly and seemingly confused, and at times swimming vertically. Typically Chapo is burrowed in his tunnel.
Yesterday I found him swimming towards the front of the tank near the sand bed, again seemingly confused and not knowing where to go. I moved a rock near where he was staying and he’s taken a liking to it, wrapping his body around it. Still not eating.
Same thing today. Did a 50% water change today (as I needed to regardless) but the behavior has been much of the same. Some labored breathing at times and then perfectly fine. Chapo will also swim around and then come back to his new rock and lay somewhat sideways, which is concerning. I see a few small white spots, but I don’t know if they are new as he’s typically burrowed and only comes out for feeding. But I haven’t seen any signs of flashing or other signs of ich. Doesn’t look like velvet to me and all other fish in the tank are fine.
I have not moved him into a QT yet as I don’t want to unnecessarily stress him out.
Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. I’ve attached a few pics too.
Some of the pictures appear as if there are more spots on him then there actually are as you’re seeing specks on the glass.
6422BC50-21D1-4660-B229-C62A2EF2C2C0.jpeg 333F1B49-8710-4CE1-B87E-09EB8BDD674C.jpeg 622E35AC-968F-48EB-BF36-30C8D02B95F1.jpeg F4D01C29-2598-4C3E-BA67-423BB7E874FC.jpeg 23A483DB-BF09-4A8B-A2F5-7DA6722429D0.jpeg C8F79C99-1BC9-44A6-871C-ABA39F704F49.jpeg 89A331F9-1B40-41DE-B2E7-7CC1722448FD.jpeg
I see frayed fins. I wonder if he has a nuerological disorder or aggression?
What is current tank levels (ammonia-nitrate-ph-salinity)
Anyother tank occupants?

@Jay Hemdal
 
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Ajayabb

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You are going to think this strange but my 2 engineer gobies did the same thing a month ago. They began swimming all over the display tank whereas before they are usually hidden beneath the rock work. I was equally worried about them like you are but eventually they returned to their usual behavior I never did find a cause for their behavior. But just to let you know I had the same experience.
 

vetteguy53081

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You are going to think this strange but my 2 engineer gobies did the same thing a month ago. They began swimming all over the display tank whereas before they are usually hidden beneath the rock work. I was equally worried about them like you are but eventually they returned to their usual behavior I never did find a cause for their behavior. But just to let you know I had the same experience.
I have one at 14" and once in a while cruises the tank but does not act lethargic
 
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I see frayed fins. I wonder if he has a nuerological disorder?
What is current tank levels (ammonia-nitrate-ph-salinity)
Anyother tank occupants?

@Jay Hemdal
I’ve wondered at times if he’s blind as it’s like he doesn’t see food right in front of him, even prior to the past 3 days.
I have 2 tomato clowns, a purple dottyback, and another engineer goby who is quite a bit larger and eats with vigor. Big mama tomato and the dottyback were bullies at first, nipping at both of their tails, but that stopped pretty quickly.
Have a peppermint shrimp and other inverts.

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrates: <20 ppm
pH: 8.2 ppm
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 77 F
 

vetteguy53081

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Salinity
I’ve wondered at times if he’s blind as it’s like he doesn’t see food right in front of him, even prior to the past 3 days.
I have 2 tomato clowns, a purple dottyback, and another engineer goby who is quite a bit larger and eats with vigor. Big mama tomato and the dottyback were bullies at first, nipping at both of their tails, but that stopped pretty quickly.
Have a peppermint shrimp and other inverts.

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrates: <20 ppm
pH: 8.2 ppm
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 77 F
- 1.025
What test kits rae you using ?
 
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Also just noticed the underside near the tail end looks like it’s deteriorating
 

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Got some more pictures of him. Looks like there are light white circle spots on him.
 

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Still alive, but spots are getting more pronounced. Haven’t seen him eat despite my best attempts to entice him. He floats and swims around at night, but has just been moving sand at the front of the tank where there’s no rockwork.
Any thoughts?
 

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Jay Hemdal

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Sorry - this post slipped off my radar. I think you can rule out most infectious diseases and all water quality issues because the other fish and invertebrates in the tank are fine. In re-reading everything, I came to this text:

"...another engineer goby who is quite a bit larger and eats with vigor."

Engineer gobies are odd in that when small, they hang together as cohorts (fish from the same brood). However, as they mature, they become territorial. I suspect that the damage on the smaller goby is coming from being attacked by the larger one.

Jay
 

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Sorry - this post slipped off my radar. I think you can rule out most infectious diseases and all water quality issues because the other fish and invertebrates in the tank are fine. In re-reading everything, I came to this text:

"...another engineer goby who is quite a bit larger and eats with vigor."

Engineer gobies are odd in that when small, they hang together as cohorts (fish from the same brood). However, as they mature, they become territorial. I suspect that the damage on the smaller goby is coming from being attacked by the larger one.

Jay
Just like clownfish do
 
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ReefRoidRage

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Sorry - this post slipped off my radar. I think you can rule out most infectious diseases and all water quality issues because the other fish and invertebrates in the tank are fine. In re-reading everything, I came to this text:

"...another engineer goby who is quite a bit larger and eats with vigor."

Engineer gobies are odd in that when small, they hang together as cohorts (fish from the same brood). However, as they mature, they become territorial. I suspect that the damage on the smaller goby is coming from being attacked by the larger one.

Jay
Ahh okay, that’s good to know - I can rearrange some rock work to see if he will start digging a new territory there instead of just building sand castles towards the front of the tank where there isn’t rock work.

Is there anything I can do to entice him to eat? I’ve tried soaking the food with garlic and using a variety of options, but haven’t seen him eat and it’s been about 5 days or so.
And should I be concerned with the random large white spots?
Lights haven’t come on for the day yet, but here’s a picture of him right now.

I really appreciate yours and everyone else’s help.
 

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Jay Hemdal

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Ahh okay, that’s good to know - I can rearrange some rock work to see if he will start digging a new territory there instead of just building sand castles towards the front of the tank where there isn’t rock work.

Is there anything I can do to entice him to eat? I’ve tried soaking the food with garlic and using a variety of options, but haven’t seen him eat and it’s been about 5 days or so.
And should I be concerned with the random large white spots?
Lights haven’t come on for the day yet, but here’s a picture of him right now.

I really appreciate yours and everyone else’s help.

If this is damage, and if the skin damage got seriously infected, then antibiotics would be required (in a treatment tank though, not your main tank).

Just spit-balling here - but the making burrows up front is also likely to be a sign of being pushed out by the other fish.

Jay
 
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ReefRoidRage

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If this is damage, and if the skin damage got seriously infected, then antibiotics would be required (in a treatment tank though, not your main tank).

Just spit-balling here - but the making burrows up front is also likely to be a sign of being pushed out by the other fish.

Jay
Okay sounds good. I moved the rock work around earlier so we will see how that goes.
Thank you
 

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