Gobi near the end of his life

[Paul B]

I thought I would document the life of one of my favorite fish. This gobi has been with me for I think about 12 years. When I got him he looked like the first picture. Yellow and skinny. As he grew a little I bought another one and they became inseperable. After a few months, they turned grayish brown and developed bright blue spots all over him and became almost colorful. After a few years they started to spawn and kept spawning all their life until the female died last year at about 11 years old.
The male who is just over 4" continued to be healthy until last week when I noticed he did not come out to eat and I had to feed him in his cave. Then I practically had to hand feed him and this morning, before the lights came on, I noticed him sleeping in the front of the tank. This fish never came to the front so I knew the end was near. Today he is refusing his favorite meal of clam even if I put it right in his mouth. I am pretty sure he is also blind.
I am not sure how long gobies live but I am quite sure this one is dying of old age. He has no paracites, torn fins or cloudy eyes and he can swim.
Except for the fact, he is no longer eating and is sitting in the front, he looks perfect. I think tomorrow will be his last day and if I could catch him I would remove him today because I am sure the bristle worms will grab him as he becomes weaker.
I will miss him.
A baby

Teenager with his main squeeze

Tending the eggs

Middle age

In morning for his sweetheart

Early this morning hanging out near the front glass.
This will be his last picture of him.

 

[cowfish]

Sad to hear, but at least we know he had a good life.

 

[rbtwo4]

damn 11 years is a long time fish are like people...my grandpa died and grandma went soon after him...

 

[ohana888]

it's all about great husbandry from the very beginning...

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

It's always a sad thing when you see a fish going that has been with you long time.

 

[motortrendz]

wow, what an amaizing life he had, and in a great system.. well atleast you csan be proud u gave him and its mate the best possible chance at a good life he could have ever had.. i dont think being in the wild would have turned out the same.. sad to hear tho..

 

[dubs]

wow that long time u had that fish sad they on the way out

 

[44santababy]

amazing thread and thanks for sharing! Wow...12 years...i cried like a child after losing my BSJ after 2 months...lol i might need a therapist after losing a fish with me for that long. Anyways GREAT fish keeping pal and i hope i can do the same for my friends. Just wondering, will you let him die naturally or will you end it yourself?

 

[tenMann2]

12 years is a long time. I'm sure he couldn't have asked for a better life, he enjoyed it to the very end because he was well cared for by you.

 

[Jakef150]

Rip

I have yellow goby its bright yellow and is approx 2 yrs old

 

[Paul B]

will you let him die naturally or will you end it yourself?

I caught him and put him in the refrigerator in a small tank. Being a cold blooded animal that usually puts them to sleep. After a while I checked on him and he was still swimming so I felt bad for him so I removed him and put him in a small tank. I am fairly sure this will be his last night. But he may surprise me.

 

[Paul B]

He died at 7:00pm tonight. I just watched him take his last breath.
Then I autopsed his gills to see if I could find any paracites because that is the best way to tell if you have any in your tank.
He had the gills of a teenager, who never smoke.
His gills were in perfect shape and I could not find one gill filimant out of place or even one paracite, which is strange.
But I know he died of old age and nothing else. There was no need to do a full autopsy

 

[44santababy]

wow, incredible... rip and sorry for your loss

 

[cybermeez]

I caught him and put him in the refrigerator in a small tank. Being a cold blooded animal that usually puts them to sleep. After a while I checked on him and he was still swimming so I felt bad for him so I removed him and put him in a small tank. I am fairly sure this will be his last night. But he may surprise me.

I'm glad you changed your mind and let him go to the big reef tank in the sky naturally. RIP little dude.

I have an albino cory cat in my fresh water tank who has to be pushing 10 years old. He probably can't see and has had bouancy problems for the past 6 months. Basicly he floats around on his side at the surface being carried around by the current when he sleeps, which seems to be much of the day. But he still likes his TetraMin Tropical Crisps and I intend to let him live out every last one of his remaining days.

 

[rbtwo4]

he died of broken heart </3

 

[Arati]

sorry Paul

I plan to use this tread to answer all future "what do you consider success in this hobby" threads.

 

[Paul B]

Thank you Arati

 

[savage]

Sorry it hear about your lost Paul... A few years back at RC forums I follow your process with your idol do u still have him?

 

[Paul B]

Savage, no I don't. He also died in an accident at almost 5 years old. I lost him with most of my older fish except the fireclown which I still have and he is about 17.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Sorry for your loss