Help Identifying & Treating White Spots on Goby

[monarchckey88]

I’ve had my yellow watchman goby for about a year without issue. About 1-1.5 weeks ago, one raised white spot on his face came and went within a couple days. So, I thought we were in the clear and he fought off whatever it was successfully.

A couple days after that, a similar spot appears between his eyes, and the next day it’s gone but a little crater is left behind. That little crater between his eyes is still there.

Now, a third white spot appeared on his other cheek and it popped within a day (that all happened today). Photos attached.

He is acting and eating normally but clearly he has some kind of infection somehow. I’ve added a few new corals recently but that’s about it. I dip and QT all fish and corals anyways before going into my DT. All parameters are stable in my tank, I test weekly.

Has anyone experienced something like this before and if so, how to go about treating it? Is it contagious for my other tank inhabitants?

 

[monarchckey88]

Here's another photo

 

[Reefara]

Yeah I’ve seen stuff like that before. Since it’s coming up, disappearing, and leaving that little crater, it’s probably some kind of minor bacterial thing, not ich or anything like that.
If he’s still eating and acting normal I wouldn’t panic. Gobies are always messing with the sand so they can nick themselves pretty easily and it turns into something like that.
I’d just keep everything stable and watch it for now. If it keeps popping up more often or starts getting worse then I’d treat it, but right now I’d just chill and keep an eye on him.
I don’t think it’s something that’s gonna spread to your other fish either.

if it keeps happening or staying lmk

 

[Marine Betta]

I’ve had my yellow watchman goby for about a year without issue. About 1-1.5 weeks ago, one raised white spot on his face came and went within a couple days. So, I thought we were in the clear and he fought off whatever it was successfully.

A couple days after that, a similar spot appears between his eyes, and the next day it’s gone but a little crater is left behind. That little crater between his eyes is still there.

Now, a third white spot appeared on his other cheek and it popped within a day (that all happened today). Photos attached.

He is acting and eating normally but clearly he has some kind of infection somehow. I’ve added a few new corals recently but that’s about it. I dip and QT all fish and corals anyways before going into my DT. All parameters are stable in my tank, I test weekly.

Has anyone experienced something like this before and if so, how to go about treating it? Is it contagious for my other tank inhabitants?

That looks like an injury that has become infected given that you state it has worsened over time. Do you have any urchins, anemones, or tank mates that could have caused this? It could also be a result from a mechanical injury. I would isolate in a separate QT tank and treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. I typically start with kanaplex or neoplex for open wounds (don’t do both), but others may have other suggestions. Add an airstone to the QT tank as well. Is the fish still eating?

 

[Marine Betta]

I’ve had my yellow watchman goby for about a year without issue. About 1-1.5 weeks ago, one raised white spot on his face came and went within a couple days. So, I thought we were in the clear and he fought off whatever it was successfully.

A couple days after that, a similar spot appears between his eyes, and the next day it’s gone but a little crater is left behind. That little crater between his eyes is still there.

Now, a third white spot appeared on his other cheek and it popped within a day (that all happened today). Photos attached.

He is acting and eating normally but clearly he has some kind of infection somehow. I’ve added a few new corals recently but that’s about it. I dip and QT all fish and corals anyways before going into my DT. All parameters are stable in my tank, I test weekly.

Has anyone experienced something like this before and if so, how to go about treating it? Is it contagious for my other tank inhabitants?

Also, in the future, post something like this to the fish disease sub forum. Experts like @Jay Hemdal and @vetteguy53081 will see this sooner.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here's another photo

Injury in which they tend to dive into rocks and treatable for healing using seachem Neoplex in a separate tank with air stone added

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’ve had my yellow watchman goby for about a year without issue. About 1-1.5 weeks ago, one raised white spot on his face came and went within a couple days. So, I thought we were in the clear and he fought off whatever it was successfully.

A couple days after that, a similar spot appears between his eyes, and the next day it’s gone but a little crater is left behind. That little crater between his eyes is still there.

Now, a third white spot appeared on his other cheek and it popped within a day (that all happened today). Photos attached.

He is acting and eating normally but clearly he has some kind of infection somehow. I’ve added a few new corals recently but that’s about it. I dip and QT all fish and corals anyways before going into my DT. All parameters are stable in my tank, I test weekly.

Has anyone experienced something like this before and if so, how to go about treating it? Is it contagious for my other tank inhabitants?

These sorts of bacterial skin infections are pretty common in this species when they are first acquired, they are sometimes fatal if not treated. However, I can't explain why these would show up in a long term captive fish like this.

Treatment would be either "watch and wait" or to move the fish to a hospital tank and treat with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex or Kanaplex.

 

[monarchckey88]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Very helpful.

I do have skunk cleaner shrimp, pistol shrimp, tuxedo urchin, and other inverts but I doubt any of them are involved.

He sifts a lot of sand so I’d imagine it happened that way.

Today is going well so far. No new bumps, the craters all appear white (not seeing any red), and he ate normally both times today. Acting normally as well.

I think I’m going to keep him in the DT for the time being and will immediately move him to my 5 gallon hospital tank if anything worsens.

My LFS recommended Seachem PolyGuard. Is that better / worse than Neoplex or Kanaplex?

 

[Marine Betta]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Very helpful.

I do have skunk cleaner shrimp, pistol shrimp, tuxedo urchin, and other inverts but I doubt any of them are involved.

He sifts a lot of sand so I’d imagine it happened that way.

Today is going well so far. No new bumps, the craters all appear white (not seeing any red), and he ate normally both times today. Acting normally as well.

I think I’m going to keep him in the DT for the time being and will immediately move him to my 5 gallon hospital tank if anything worsens.

My LFS recommended Seachem PolyGuard. Is that better / worse than Neoplex or Kanaplex?

If he’s still eating, that’s a good sign. Glad he doesn’t look any worse. Keep an eye on it though. Saltwater bacterial infections can go south very quickly.

I believe Polyguard is primarily a freshwater medication. It treats a broad spectrum of infections (bacterial and fungal). Fungal infections are much rarer in saltwater than they are in freshwater. This is why polyguard is rarely suggested as a medication in this forum. I would use kanaplex or neoplex which treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections.

 

[monarchckey88]

If he’s still eating, that’s a good sign. Glad he doesn’t look any worse. Keep an eye on it though. Saltwater bacterial infections can go south very quickly.

I believe Polyguard is primarily a freshwater medication. It treats a broad spectrum of infections (bacterial and fungal). Fungal infections are much rarer in saltwater than they are in freshwater. This is why polyguard is rarely suggested as a medication in this forum. I would use kanaplex or neoplex which treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections.

Thanks.

Do you think it’s a mistake to keep him in the DT at this point in time?

 

[Marine Betta]

If he’s still eating, that’s a good sign. Glad he doesn’t look any worse. Keep an eye on it though. Saltwater bacterial infections can go south very quickly.

I believe Polyguard is primarily a freshwater medication. It treats a broad spectrum of infections (bacterial and fungal). Fungal infections are much rarer in saltwater than they are in freshwater. This is why polyguard is rarely suggested as a medication in this forum. I would use kanaplex or neoplex which treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections.

Thanks.

Do you think it’s a mistake to keep him in the DT at this point in time?

That’s a tough call. It could heal on its own. It’s a good sign that it hasn’t worsened and he’s acting normal. Personally, I would treat. Better safe than sorry.

Do you have a cycled QT tank? If you decide to wait and see and don’t have a cycled QT, I would get it ready in case you needed it rather than stress him out further by throwing him into an uncycled tank. If you feel like it has improved, leave him but be ready to treat. Make sure your water is clean. If you see even a hint of red in his wounds, definitely treat.

See what others think.

 

[monarchckey88]

Here he is today. Still eating well and acting normal. No new spots have appeared.

 

[Marine Betta]

Here he is today. Still eating well and acting normal. No new spots have appeared.

Good to hear. Looks like his wounds might be a little smaller/less fleshy than the previous pictures too.