Who killed my watchman goby?

babyduke · 10/20/2009, 12:28 PM

I experienced the first in-tank fatality in almost year since my tank was set up. I've had couple fish that jumped out to death. My watchman rarely ever makes his appearance and even when he does, it's very brief but yesterday, I spotted him sturggling to swim at the top looking really beat up. His fins looked beat up and his color was almost white. I knew something was wrong then couple hours later, he was sitting on the sand bottom not moving much. I knew he was in bad shape. Sure enough couple hours later, he was dead and my emerald crabs were fighting over him for a meal. I do not have any aggressive fish and never have witnessed any tensions even during feeding. Current residents that are under investigation are:

1 blue hippo tang
1 tomato clown
1 bi-color angel
1 yellow clown goby
2 firefish gobies
2 peppermint shrimps
2 emeral crabs
bunch of snails & hermit crabs

I suspect yellow clown goby 'tho I've never seen any aggressive side to him but because I read somewhere that those two wouldn't get along.

Sugar Magnolia · 10/20/2009, 12:49 PM

It could also be the tomato clown. They can get very agressive and territorial.

babyduke · 10/20/2009, 01:37 PM

I've heard about the tomato clown but mine's a wimp.

firstsalt · 10/20/2009, 02:53 PM

my watchman has just disappeared but i suspect my blood shrimp has done it so maybe your peppermint shrimp just a guess

10/20/2009, 12:28 PM	#1
babyduke Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 210	Who killed my watchman goby? I experienced the first in-tank fatality in almost year since my tank was set up. I've had couple fish that jumped out to death. My watchman rarely ever makes his appearance and even when he does, it's very brief but yesterday, I spotted him sturggling to swim at the top looking really beat up. His fins looked beat up and his color was almost white. I knew something was wrong then couple hours later, he was sitting on the sand bottom not moving much. I knew he was in bad shape. Sure enough couple hours later, he was dead and my emerald crabs were fighting over him for a meal. I do not have any aggressive fish and never have witnessed any tensions even during feeding. Current residents that are under investigation are: 1 blue hippo tang 1 tomato clown 1 bi-color angel 1 yellow clown goby 2 firefish gobies 2 peppermint shrimps 2 emeral crabs bunch of snails & hermit crabs I suspect yellow clown goby 'tho I've never seen any aggressive side to him but because I read somewhere that those two wouldn't get along.

10/20/2009, 12:49 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It could also be the tomato clown. They can get very agressive and territorial. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

10/20/2009, 02:53 PM	#4
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	my watchman has just disappeared but i suspect my blood shrimp has done it so maybe your peppermint shrimp just a guess __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

10/20/2009, 01:37 PM	#3
babyduke Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 210	I've heard about the tomato clown but mine's a wimp.