Where did my Diamond Goby go?

[dfwjr1973]

So...have (had) a very nice Diamond Goby for 2 months and he has always been super friendly and always out and swimming around. Always sifting and moving sand, eating, etc. I frequently feed copepods and see them so there is a lot of food for him... He moves a LOT of sand...often creating huge piles... But, I have also been concerned because he often cleaned out under my rocks to the point where they were moving and even some are sitting on the bottom glass... I wondered if he might get trapped somehow sometime...

Yesterday I realized I haven't seen him in a day or two. I searched, but decided to leave it for the night.

This morning, the same thing at feeding time when he would normally be out with the other fish sifting sand...he wasn't nowhere to be seen. He has always been out to the point my little daughter always even gave him a "good morning Bob" every morning as he (seemingly) waited for her...

So, I am wondering where he is. I did lift one rock that he has cleaned under this morning but he wasn't under there... I do have a nice rockscape with lots of tunnels, holes that he and my firefish and my blenny like to go and sit in...so maybe he is just hiding?

The tank is covered with a clear screen lid that has a single 1" x 2" hole in it for adding additives...but the rest is closed...so there is a chance for him to jump out if his aim is very good. I also remembered that our cat was sitting in front of the tank the other morning for the first time ever...

So...where do you think Bob is?

He is hiding in the rockscape/gravel somewhere...and I should just give it some time?
He jumped out and my cat ate him?
He died in the tank and my CUC of hermit crabs, emerald crab, snails, and cleaner shrimp disposed of his body?
He jumped out and somehow flopped around into/under the tank stand somewhere?
He is stuck under the rocks somewhere, still alive so I should search for him to rescue him (would not be easy as all the corals and rocks are all glued together except for the single rock I looked under this morning...)?
He is stuck under the rocks somewhere but already moved onto the aquarium in the sky?

 

[edsbeaker]

It’s not that unusual for a goby that stays mainly in the rockwork and sand to disappear from your sight for a while. If he doesn’t show up for a few weeks or a month or two, then you may have to consider one of the options above. He just might show up, though.

 

[kevgib67]

I purchased one and he was out and about and eating the first day. I got up the next day and he was gone, I never saw him again. When I was picking up a replacement I told the owner of my lfs. She asked right away if I had a cat or a dog ( I have both) and even with the hood on the tank she was convinced it jumped through a very small hole and was eaten. That was almost 3 years ago. I still have the replacement. If it doesn’t show up, I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[jermzisurmom]

Check the floor by the tank..... Only option I didn't see and that's where mine like to go and I have screen top so u tell me how he got there....