Exquisite fire fish and stocking questions

[JosephM]

My tank is finally cycled and I added an exquisite fire fish yesterday. He is beautiful but VERY timid. He’s been in his little corner 24/7 but he is eating and looking good. I know they take a while to get comfortable so I’m not worried as long as he’s eating. I have a 29 gal reef tank with 20 long sump underneath. In the near future I’m wanting to add a pair of clownfish, a royal gramma, and a cleaner shrimp. I was wondering if I should wait for him to get out more before getting any new fish or if new fish will help him get out more. And can I add the shrimp whenever or will that affect him too? He’s my first one so I’m just going with what is best for him. Thank you in advance for any advice and help.

 

[Deschutes541]

Give them time. I wouldn't add more than a fish per month. That's just my arbitrary standard but you don't want to stock too quickly and have an ammonia spike. I don't see a reason you couldn't add the shrimp though.

 

[Old Fritz]

Exquisite firefish are by far one of my favorite nano fish. Your other fish you're wanting to add aren't really aggressive so you shouldn't have an issue adding them. You can add shrimp whenever imo as they have never bothered my firefishes. Firefish do slowly get used to different stimuli. It took my first firefish a week to come out of hiding and probably two weeks for it to get used to me walking by. But eventually it will be out and about with no issues.

 

[JosephM]

Thank you guys for the responses. I’ll add the shrimp when I go to LFS at the end of the week and just hold off on fish for a little bit and maybe add some corals while I wait

 

[Jilly92]

My tank is finally cycled and I added an exquisite fire fish yesterday. He is beautiful but VERY timid. He’s been in his little corner 24/7 but he is eating and looking good. I know they take a while to get comfortable so I’m not worried as long as he’s eating. I have a 29 gal reef tank with 20 long sump underneath. In the near future I’m wanting to add a pair of clownfish, a royal gramma, and a cleaner shrimp. I was wondering if I should wait for him to get out more before getting any new fish or if new fish will help him get out more. And can I add the shrimp whenever or will that affect him too? He’s my first one so I’m just going with what is best for him. Thank you in advance for any advice and help.

They do better in pairs. My 2 firefish were always out in the front when they were paired

 

[Oldsman]

Our firefish hid awhile a few days , now its cruising open water...until our 4 yr old runs past tank lol

 

[JosephM]

They do better in pairs. My 2 firefish were always out in the front when they were paired

From what I’ve read is it is hit or miss with pairs because they could both be males and fight

 

[Jilly92]

From what I’ve read is it is hit or miss with pairs because they could both be males and fight

Hmm not sure where you read that. They are total sweethearts and very passive imo I've never seen a firefish act aggressive.

 

[JosephM]

Hmm not sure where you read that. They are total sweethearts and very passive imo I've never seen a firefish act aggressive.

Just different forums. Many different opinions out there. I don’t think there’s any negative to keeping one so I’d rather be safe and have an extra slot for another fish since my tank is so small.

 

[Old Fritz]

Hmm not sure where you read that. They are total sweethearts and very passive imo I've never seen a firefish act aggressive.

I own a fish store and one of my employees constantly makes the mistake of putting all the firefish we receive in the same tank. After a day or two fins will be torn. After a few more days they'll kill each other. You need to have a male-female pair otherwise they will probably kill each other