2 no 3 finned fire fish

snwmnky007 · Jul 17, 2014

You tell me have you seen a two finned fire fish? I have not.
I wish I could breed it but he kills any other fire fish I put in.

tlove · Jul 17, 2014

have you ever bred fire fish ?

ritter6788 · Jul 17, 2014

Moved to fish discussion.

eatbreakfast · Jul 17, 2014

This usually isnt a genetic trait, when seen in firefish it is most often a result from an injury earlier in life and heals and grows in a separate manner.

Karen · Jul 19, 2014

My firefish has a fin like that. I haven't added any other fish with him yet. I thought he was a peaceful fish to add into the aquarium first?

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Pete polyp · Jul 19, 2014

Mine was like that for about a month after I found him in the overflow. It healed up though

Pete polyp · Jul 19, 2014

Karen said:
My firefish has a fin like that. I haven't added any other fish with him yet. I thought he was a peaceful fish to add into the aquarium first?

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From my understanding they will be aggressive to any new addition of the same species. I added 3 at the same time and have no issues.

Karen · Jul 19, 2014

On, then no worries about other species? I am planning on just the one firefish

Ike · Jul 19, 2014

Pete polyp said:
From my understanding they will be aggressive to any new addition of the same species. I added 3 at the same time and have no issues.

Double

Ike · Jul 19, 2014

Pete polyp said:
From my understanding they will be aggressive to any new addition of the same species. I added 3 at the same time and have no issues.

Highly likely you will be down to one within the first 6 months of ownership unless you have a really large tank. Fire fish should only be kept as singles

eatbreakfast · Jul 19, 2014

Ike said:
Highly likely you will be down to one within the first 6 months of ownership unless you have a really large tank. Fire fish should only be kept as singles

They can be kept in pairs, but its difficult to get a pair without getting a group that will whittle down to a pair. For as long as they have been in the hobby and with how common they are, there is still alot we dont know about them. An important aspect as far aspairing them goes that is not known is whether they are born male or fema(like cardinalfish) or whether they are protogynous( like anthias and wrasses) or protandrous(like clownfish) hermaphrodites.

Pete polyp · Jul 19, 2014

Ike said:
Highly likely you will be down to one within the first 6 months of ownership unless you have a really large tank. Fire fish should only be kept as singles

Two months and no issues.

snwmnky007 · Jul 19, 2014

So I added three to see if I could get a pair 10 months ago.

This guys has had the fins like this since I recieved him last year.

First three months there were no issues but then he killed off both others over three months. He's with a rainsford gobies and a scooter Bennie in my planted 30 gal tank below my 40 breeder mixed reef.

In the pic you can see a third growth on the first fin. I understand if it is not genetic, it's still cool, thanks for the comments.

Karen · Jul 19, 2014

It really is. I really like mine. Good luck with him snsmnky007.

Ike · Jul 19, 2014

Pete polyp said:
Two months and no issues.

Just give it a little time and you will have issues... If you don't want to kill two fire fish you need to take two of them out.

As for the fin, doubtful it's genetic. I also don't know of any successful fire fish breeding programs.

NanaReefer · Jul 19, 2014

I had one....added another couple months later and within 2 days it was dead. Killed by the first. They were the only fish in the tank.

tlove · Jul 20, 2014

I have two pair of fire fish, put them in my tank as a pair a different times, they live paired off as they were introduced but with no hostilities towards each other. 4 happy fire fish

Bowin · Jul 25, 2014

I started with 4. They all fought at first with two getting the worst of it. One was killed by the alpha. The remaining 3 settled in with one having it's fin ripped apart like the one in the op's photo. Then one day the bully couldn't deal with the guilt of his previous murderous ways and ended his life on my hardwood floors. The remaining two now live in peace and harmony although the torn fins have barely heeled even after almost a year.

snwmnky007 · Jul 26, 2014

tlove said:
I have two pair of fire fish, put them in my tank as a pair a different times, they live paired off as they were introduced but with no hostilities towards each other. 4 happy fire fish

To have one pair awesome but two. Great find!

Bowin said:
I started with 4. They all fought at first with two getting the worst of it. One was killed by the alpha. The remaining 3 settled in with one having it's fin ripped apart like the one in the op's photo. Then one day the bully couldn't deal with the guilt of his previous murderous ways and ended his life on my hardwood floors. The remaining two now live in peace and harmony although the torn fins have barely heeled even after almost a year.

Great story, any pics?