Firefish 120g stocking

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

I have been staying away from firefish as I heard they didn't do well in fresh tanks, but I havn't seen a clear answer on whether they are best kept singly or in groups. I often see them wasting away in lfs. Why is this?

 

[jabberwock]

Firefish Goby is my go to first fish. Inexpensive, docile, and pretty hardy. They are jumpers though. Prone to carpet surfing.

 

[jabberwock]

Oh, and I think best kept as a single.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have been staying away from firefish as I heard they didn't do well in fresh tanks, but I havn't seen a clear answer on whether they are best kept singly or in groups. I often see them wasting away in lfs. Why is this?

Being one of the more peaceful and bashful occupants, place them in tank first

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

Being one of the more peaceful and bashful occupants, place them in tank first

To clarify this is a 2 year old established reef stocked only with non aggressive fish. Well, once the melanarus leaves. But he's a model citizen for now. 120g, 150ish lbs rock.

 

[i cant think]

I have been staying away from firefish as I heard they didn't do well in fresh tanks, but I havn't seen a clear answer on whether they are best kept singly or in groups. I often see them wasting away in lfs. Why is this?

These guys are seen as peaceful however when kept in more than a pair they tend to fight to the death and you often see this as some will either just waste away or go missing.
There is only one true communal species of Nemateleotris. This is the Magnifica and even then groups don’t always work out in captivity.

The other species (Helfrichi, Exquisita and Decora) are not communal and usually do fight to the death when in more than just a pair, I have seen some pairs just never get along as well and this is often because they are not sexually dichromatic from what I know. The only way to get a pair that works is having two juveniles or getting an established one and then introducing a juvenile that is smaller than the current one.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

These guys are seen as peaceful however when kept in more than a pair they tend to fight to the death and you often see this as some will either just waste away or go missing.
There is only one true communal species of Nemateleotris. This is the Magnifica and even then groups don’t always work out in captivity.

The other species (Helfrichi, Exquisita and Decora) are not communal and usually do fight to the death when in more than just a pair, I have seen some pairs just never get along as well and this is often because they are not sexually dichromatic from what I know. The only way to get a pair that works is having two juveniles or getting an established one and then introducing a juvenile that is smaller than the current one.

The other half will be disappointed but good to have concrete info.

 

[Zionas]

As far as I know, Firefish are only pair forming while the other Dartfish hang out in groups.