Why are my gobies dying?

[Zhel]

Hi there, I know it’s a hard question. But just taking guesses from goby experts.

I had a pink/blue spotted goby which jumped out when we did water changes. I was so sad as we have the goby for a long time, so my husband decided to get a replacement. We bought a jumbo watchman goby and after 3 days died. We thought that we got a very old goby and didn’t make it long. We went to a LFS to get another goby as we think our tank will only be complete with goby. We got the diamond sand sleeper goby, “he” was very active the day after we got him then after 3 days we didn’t see it which is quite unusual coz whenever it’s feeding time “he” is very alert so decided to find “him”, unfortunately he was buried dead under one of the big rock.

We have 8 other fish, who are all ok in the tank. The parameters are all good from salinity, temp, etc.

I am puzzled aside from being sad that I can’t keep a goby. I was really sad when I lost my first one.

I was thinking, fish bullying? We got clown fish, anthias, pygmy angel, mimic tang, cardinal, green wrasse, firefish & 4 stripe damsel.

I still want a bottom fish but don’t want a dying goby.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Snuffy The Seal]

Likely just single specimen issues. First goby died because he jumped out, second likely died from some kind of LFS issue and diamond gobies have been known to starve. Gobies are often the least bullied due to seclusive nature and burrows.

 

[Zhel]

Thank you. I’ll keep on trying with gobies.

 

[adromero]

Also, gobies will jump. The only goby that has never been a risk for me is my shrimp goby because he lives with a pistol shrimp in the gravel. I learned this after putting a top on my tank that I can now keep gobies. Before that, I kept a diamond goby for about a year then he decided to jump.