Firefish: better in groups?

pseudorand · Sep 6, 2020

Are firefish more active in groups?

I had two that stayed in one area of the tank. I spot fed them every day because they wouldn't come to the surface to eat. One was gone after a two week vacation. I assume he didn't get enough from the auto-feeder without spot feeding because he wouldn't compete with my Clarkii clowns.

My LFS told me today that they're a schooling fish and come out more in groups. I love them and want to believe it because I want some more, but there are conflicting reports here in the forums.

Should I get half a dozen and see how it goes, or will I just end up starving more fish next time I go on vacation?

pcon · Sep 6, 2020

Firefish are monogamous and in tanks will widdle themselves down to a single or true mated pair in all but the largest tanks. groups are inadvisable.

ichthyogeek · Sep 7, 2020

Hmmm...well, guess there's going to be another conflicting report here! The fish I have are hopefully going to be used for breeding purposes, so they're not in a reef tank or anything.

I've currently got a trio in "purgatory" quarantine...they're ready to be out of quarantine, but I haven't moved yet so might as well save the hassle of getting them into a display and all. This was whittled down from a group of 6 I purchased in around March/May. The whittling process was in a 29 gallon, and when they were a group of three, got moved to 5 gallon buckets slash a 20H for quarantine.

Currently they all share the same PVC pipe for hiding. Could it be a trio? Maybe. Could it just be a pair and a plus one? Also maybe.

pcon · Sep 7, 2020

Nemateleotris decora summary page

www.fishbase.se

It is well documented in the scientific literature and the hobby that the genus is monogamous. Juveniles are known to cohabitate, but the vast majority of the time as they reach maturity they will kill off the odd man out. As with everything in this hobby there are the occasional individuals where this is not the case; most of the time, in the long run, only individuals and true mated pairs will work out. The other dartfish are better for larger groups.

Haydn · Sep 7, 2020

I can only agree with the above- I had 5 they were 'found' in the filtration system in a LFS where they had been together for 4-5months. I put them in my 2000L system, so not crowded. Almost immediately they split into 2 'pairs' and harassed the spare to death. The 2 'pairs' split the tank in half and constantly bickered, another one disappeared and one pair harassed the spare to death again.

My feeling is they group if they are under stress for protection, but once they relax in a settled display their true behavior comes out and that isn't in a shoal.

eatbreakfast · Sep 7, 2020

My experience has been the same. 2 will pr up and gradually eliminate the others.

PatW · Sep 7, 2020

I have a 300 gallon tank. I tried keeping 2 pairs of fire fish. The one pair took the right side of the tank and the other the left. Over time, one pair took the center and the other pair died. So I think unless you have a truly enormous tank, it is one pair at a time. I have never tried adding a potload of fire fish at one time to see how that works.

vetteguy53081 · Sep 7, 2020

I have one tank with trio and one with a single. Every so often via the trio, one hides often with the other two out frequently

pseudorand · Sep 7, 2020

So what if I get just one more to make a pair? Can I sex them, or does one change gender like clowns and so many other fish?

What if I get a pair of purples to go with my hopefully-pair-again of reds? Will they fight or leave each other alone? And can you buy two and they usually pair, or is she like "not if you were the last firefish in the tank!"

eatbreakfast · Sep 7, 2020

They dont change gender. So you have to look for a formed pr. If you just randomly buy 2 its a 50/50 chance of getting a pr.

Davewright1010 · Sep 8, 2020

pseudorand said:
Are firefish more active in groups?

I had two that stayed in one area of the tank. I spot fed them every day because they wouldn't come to the surface to eat. One was gone after a two week vacation. I assume he didn't get enough from the auto-feeder without spot feeding because he wouldn't compete with my Clarkii clowns.

My LFS told me today that they're a schooling fish and come out more in groups. I love them and want to believe it because I want some more, but there are conflicting reports here in the forums.

Should I get half a dozen and see how it goes, or will I just end up starving more fish next time I go on vacation?

i guess I’m lucky to still have the 5 original fire fish I purchased 8 months ago.

When introduced into my 65 gallon tank they all created separate hiding places under rocks and were visible only 10% of the time. They never came out for feeding time and I often wondered when\how they ate.

After hiding for 6 months all fire fish Now swim freely in my tank and feed during feeding time and rarely go under their rocks. They are visible 95% of the time ... beautiful!

Difrano · Sep 8, 2020

I would say the can change sex based on my experience. I have been keeping pairs of Firefish for the past 6 years, and the only issue was when I got my first 3 from the LFS, because they had 3 left and the guy gave me one free and paid for 2, they lived together for a couple of months until a pair formed and then the 3rd one just died, then afetr few years one died and bought a new one and they paired, then the older one died and bought another one and they paired again. All of those pairs where breeding in the tank. After those 2 died took a break and this year on my 250 I have a new pair and again they are happy together: