Help Needed--Urgent

[Beaches]

Happy New Year to all, it's been a while since I posted, but I read the forum faithfully a few times a week just to keep up with what everyone's up to.

I'm in need of some expert advice, as usual...I've done some research, but still need help.

Two weeks ago my daughter's cat decided it needed to play with my aquarium heater cord/thermostat and needless to say it is toast...and unfortunately along with a few inhabitants of my tank.

I have since replaced the heater, did a 25% water change and all my levels are back to normal. As the temp was way above 85(which is as high as my indicator goes) I lost my blenny, a few crabs, 3 shrimp and had a great time with algae growth (again!). I'm happy to say that my chromis, tomato clown and anenomes are doing fine.

Saturday I added a yellow goby (it has blue & white lines on it's head) to replace my blenny. However, everything I've read says it should be staying in the rocks and hiding...mine is swimming mostly at the top levels of the tank, hiding around the maxi jets and since I added it to the tank has not eaten (at least that I'm aware of and I've been watching closely)--it's active and appears OK. I have tried feeding frozen brine shrimp along with some flake food--it hasn't touched anything and I'm starting to worry.

I called the lfs and the owner asked if my other fish were "picking" on it...as this could be a reason--but not that I'm aware of--their pretty oblivious to anything other than meal time...

Any suggestions...I really don't want to lose the little guy. Thanks for any help you can give

[Doug1]

So you have had this new one since saturday and still havent seen him eat.?
Must be gettin something when you are n't looking. Hopefully it will settle down and be OK

[Geoff]

they like to have little holes in which to hide, they prefer holes that have a closed up end to feel protected. what size tank? what kind of chromis? generally the fish you have listed should be fine together. they like to hide in old barnacle shells. do not know if you have any of those lying around.

G~

[Beaches]

It's a 40g and there are 2 green chromis. There are plenty of places for it to hide in the lr...it just appears to like the maxi-jets better.

Isn't it odd for them to be at the top rather than the bottom? Is this just until it gets used to the tank...sorry, just a concerned "parent."

[Spanky]

Hey Beaches

Sounds to me like he's afraid of that tomato clown.

[ShirleyM]

Is he of the Watchman Goby variety that likes to have a pistol shrimp companion to dig his tunnels for him?

Shirley

[Beaches]

No, I don't think he's a Watchman--he's not the long/round type goby. He's about the size of the larger of my chromis--about 1/2 tall, 1" long, he's yellow and has a blue/white stripe on his head area. I've had a yellow one before (it didn't have the markings though), but it was very small (unfortunately, it didn't make the new/larger tank switch last July)--and it hid most of the time.

I thought about the tomato, but I've been watching...and she's pretty much ignoring it, except for when it goes near her condy anenome. But, she does that to everyone...me included! If you think this is the problem, would it help to remove Tommi from the tank for a while (say a few hours)?

When the tank went "hot" I moved the rocks around to inspect for victims, but I could rearrange again, if you think that might help too?

I know it's not one of the rarer or expensive fish, but I really hate losing any of my "family"...

[Beaches]

OK, I looked it up...I think it's a Yellow/Greenish Clown Goby...at least the picture looks similar to my little guy.

[Brooke]

If its over an inch long its probably not a clown goby. Those are really small...the green ones usually have red stripes on their bodies.

You have a few aggressive fish in there, so it may just have to get used to them. Also, if it is a clown goby they are perching fish..they just kind of hang out on the rocks and do not do a whole lot of swimming.

HTH-
Brooke

[Beaches]

Thanks for all your input...I guess I have a mystery goby (or something else). All I can tell is it's yellow, has those blue/white stripes, and looks similar in size/body shape to the picture of the Green Goby that I was able to find online.

It's mannerisms so far has been to shoot (we're not talking too speedy) across the tank and "sit/perch" on the maxi jets and along the the glass. It sits there a while then it's off again. My main concern is that in all I've read this isn't the correct personality of this type of fish and I just want to try to ensure, as much as possible, that it's OK.

I guess, I'll just have to wait and see. Any suggestions on how to get it to eat if it doesn't by tonight?

Thanks again!

[JennM]

It sounds like a citron goby. One of my faves I had one many years ago who perched high up to oversee his little kingdom.

Did he eat in the store where you got him? (if you didn't ask to have him fed, perhaps you may wish to do this next time...) If he did eat in the store, find out what they were feeding, and try that. It could be that he's worried about the clown, or just not settled yet.

I had one a couple of years ago, brought him home from work before I'd seen him eat at the store (my bad) and sure enough he failed to thrive. I lost him 3 months later, but he slowly faded away to nothing.

Hope he eats for you soon,

Jenn