Random Goby Death

[Sharkbait19]

Hi #fishmedics
This morning I woke up to surprisingly find my pink spotted watchman goby dead. Last night he was perfectly fine, ate tons of food, was acting totally normal. The only two things to change yesterday were the addition of some new corals (from a place that I am 99% sure is parasite-free), and my house’s air conditioner broke so the room temperature increased (though the tank itself is still sitting around the same temperature). My orange spotted blenny would often chase the goby and vice versa, but I’ve never seen any bite marks on either, and witness no marks on the goby now. I know that sometimes fish deaths just happen, but perhaps there is something glaringly obvious that I am missing. I highly doubt this was asphyxiation, unless a slight increase in temp could reduce oxygen that much, and I would sooner expect to see corals react to the raise in temp before the fish would. Are there any other factors I should be accounting for?

PO4: 0.8 (it almost always reads higher than it should, and I’m starting to think it may be the test kit)
NO3: 35
Alk: 9.0
pH: 8.0

 

[Jekyl]

Hard to point to an environmental change since only 1 fish was effected. All others still fine today? Eating?

 

[MnFish1]

Hi #fishmedics
This morning I woke up to surprisingly find my pink spotted watchman goby dead. Last night he was perfectly fine, ate tons of food, was acting totally normal. The only two things to change yesterday were the addition of some new corals (from a place that I am 99% sure is parasite-free), and my house’s air conditioner broke so the room temperature increased (though the tank itself is still sitting around the same temperature). My orange spotted blenny would often chase the goby and vice versa, but I’ve never seen any bite marks on either, and witness no marks on the goby now. I know that sometimes fish deaths just happen, but perhaps there is something glaringly obvious that I am missing. I highly doubt this was asphyxiation, unless a slight increase in temp could reduce oxygen that much, and I would sooner expect to see corals react to the raise in temp before the fish would. Are there any other factors I should be accounting for?

PO4: 0.8 (it almost always reads higher than it should, and I’m starting to think it may be the test kit)
NO3: 35
Alk: 9.0
pH: 8.0

How long have you had the fish? Remembering that the lifespan in captivity rarely lasts longer than 3 years for most jawfish (5 would be long-lived per my experience). The coral shouldn't have introduced anything fatal that quickly. IMHO - the fish looks a little thin?

 

[Sharkbait19]

The rest are doing well. I’ve had the goby for about three months, and he definitely wasn’t fully grown

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi #fishmedics
This morning I woke up to surprisingly find my pink spotted watchman goby dead. Last night he was perfectly fine, ate tons of food, was acting totally normal. The only two things to change yesterday were the addition of some new corals (from a place that I am 99% sure is parasite-free), and my house’s air conditioner broke so the room temperature increased (though the tank itself is still sitting around the same temperature). My orange spotted blenny would often chase the goby and vice versa, but I’ve never seen any bite marks on either, and witness no marks on the goby now. I know that sometimes fish deaths just happen, but perhaps there is something glaringly obvious that I am missing. I highly doubt this was asphyxiation, unless a slight increase in temp could reduce oxygen that much, and I would sooner expect to see corals react to the raise in temp before the fish would. Are there any other factors I should be accounting for?

PO4: 0.8 (it almost always reads higher than it should, and I’m starting to think it may be the test kit)
NO3: 35
Alk: 9.0
pH: 8.0

If you still have the dead goby, give it a 10 minute FW dip to look for flukes. You may need a hand lens to see the small ones. If you don't see flukes, you can at least rule that out.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I already discarded it - is it worth treating the whole tank with prazi as a precaution?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I already discarded it - is it worth treating the whole tank with prazi as a precaution?

Not unless the other fish are showing symptoms - I just use that technique to rule things out.....