Firefish hiding

Brand00995576 · Dec 25, 2018

My reef is 2 years old and I've had the same firefish from when the tank was started. 2 months ago I added a straw berry dotty back knowing it might bully other fish but I wanted to try it so I put him in. Everyone was fine I've never seen any aggression or torn fins but for 3 days my firefish only comes out to eat. Also the yellow wacthman moved into the firefishes cave recently but they dont fight at all. Any ideas y the fire fish is hiding.

1 bangi cardinal
1 malanruss wrasse
2 clowns
1 firefish
1 strawberry dotty back
1 flame angel
1 yellow wacthman goby

55 gallon tank with 55 gallon sump and tons of coral and live rock water parments are great

Chris Villalobos · Dec 25, 2018

My clownfish keeps the firefish hiding ever since I got it a year ago. It only comes out to feed. My tank is on the small side so there isn't much area that isn't in the clown's domain.

jd371 · Dec 26, 2018

Same. My Firefish was the first in the tank. For the 3.5 years the tank has been running he would go into hiding when adding some of the new fish to the tank. The longest he hid was for a month. I thought for sure he was goner and starved to death. He eventually came out sporting a big belly, so although hiding he was getting food in there. Presently he stays in his cave until a few hours before feeding and then a couple of hours after before going into his cave again.

Radman73 · Dec 26, 2018

I also have a very timid fire fish. I think it’s just their nature. I recently added some fish and have only seen mine once in the last week. He’s hidden for 3-4 weeks at a time before. No aggression that I’ve seen as at he’ll be out with all fish and no problems. If I change anything though, he gets spooked.

VR28man · Dec 26, 2018

My firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) is fairly active. It's companions, in a 30x13x18 inch tank, are two ocellaris clowns and a yellow headed jawfish. At first the firefish hung with the jawfish, now it more seeks its own caves and the like, but during feeding they stay in close proximity with each other.

S/he's also not scared of cats.

The firefish may be skittish with the dottyback. I'm not familiar with this species, but a quick google search found "[these]Dottybacks can often be quite the bullies and should not be added to peaceful community aquariums or aquariums that will house timid or hesitant feeders. They are best kept with tangs, large damselfish, hawkfish, angelfish, squirrels, parrots and other large fish that are not bullied easily" at Blue Zoo. Practical fishkeeping calls this species a "little terror". I would see how things go after several days.

Also, how the clowns impact the other fish is a function of which clown you have. My small ocellari are fine, but a clark's clown or maroon are a different story.