Yellow Watchman Goby Jaw Disintegration?

[tombudster]

Hello again! I really need to stop posting in this section :(

I have a YWG that over the last 2 weeks has seen a great deterioration in his jaw. At first it was just a small brown spot, and now it has spread and seems to be getting dramatically worse over the last 3 days. He is eating normally and acting normally, but I am getting more and more concerned about his jaw.

Here is a video of the issue -

I'll attach some pictures below, I've just never seen anything like this and would love some guidance.

I do have some other questions too -

- This is a used tank, is there any possibility that bacteria had stayed on the tank while my LFS had it stored (dry without water)

- Is there any antibacterial or antibiotic I can use in the entire DT instead of having to fish this guy out, that is also reef safe?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello again! I really need to stop posting in this section :(

I have a YWG that over the last 2 weeks has seen a great deterioration in his jaw. At first it was just a small brown spot, and now it has spread and seems to be getting dramatically worse over the last 3 days. He is eating normally and acting normally, but I am getting more and more concerned about his jaw.

Here is a video of the issue -

I'll attach some pictures below, I've just never seen anything like this and would love some guidance.

I do have some other questions too -

- This is a used tank, is there any possibility that bacteria had stayed on the tank while my LFS had it stored (dry without water)

- Is there any antibacterial or antibiotic I can use in the entire DT instead of having to fish this guy out, that is also reef safe?

That looks like a bacterial infection. Most of those start with some sort of injury. The bacteria that causes this sort of infection are commonly found in all aquariums - the infection just gets started through the damaged tissue - think you getting dirt in a cut on your hand.

No true antibiotics are reef safe. You really need to move the fish to a hospital tank and treat with a gram negative broad spectrum antibiotic like neomycin or kanamycin.

The risk here is that the mouth is involved. At done point, the fish may stop feeding due to the damage caused by the infection.