Purple Firefish Goby - Swollen abdomen

CraigMixedReef

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 26, 2017
Messages
65
Reaction score
104
Location
Madison, Wisconsin
What state or country do you live in
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My Purple Firefish Goby became sick and died very quickly (within a few days). I rarely saw him (or her), as he liked to hide in the rocks. I found him on the bottom tonight, and upon inspection, noticed his side was very swollen and discolored. See the picture below, please. Healthy tank (so far) and all parameters are within normal ranges. Mixed reef environment.
I don't believe he was bullied. All other fish appear healthy and are eating and active. Any thought on what killed my friend, Mr. Goby?
Goby.jpg
 
Looks more like rigor mortis than any ailment — IE how land animals decompose and get “fatter” due to gas buildup upon dying until they “burst” then they shrivel up and dry out. A gross topic, sorry.

I don’t know the science behind it but that’s what this looks like to me.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the quick reply.
He wasn't dead when I found him. He was still breathing at the bottom and upside down.
He died shortly after I noticed him.
 
His abdomen looks a bit swollen, but I'm not sure if that discoloration is a bruise or as mentioned above, rigor mortis. You'd have to perform a necropsy and examine his innards to know.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT GIVES YOU THE GREATEST SATISFACTION THAT YOUR REEF IS DOING WELL?

  • Seeing noticeable coral growth

    Votes: 6 25.0%
  • Watching corals open up and show their best color

    Votes: 6 25.0%
  • Seeing fish active, eating, and behaving naturally

    Votes: 2 8.3%
  • Spotting pods, sponges, and other tiny life

    Votes: 1 4.2%
  • Seeing fish clutches or invertebrate babies

    Votes: 1 4.2%
  • Having a long stretch without a major problem

    Votes: 2 8.3%
  • Looking at the whole tank and loving how it’s coming together

    Votes: 4 16.7%
  • Something else (post in the comments)

    Votes: 2 8.3%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new