Firefish relationships

[jasonrusso]

I haven't seen one of my firefish for 3 days. He wasn't in the rear sump (I've pulled him out 4 times), so I'm considering him dead. Maybe my pistol shrimp got him, I don't know.

Either way, the other firefish is out and about. Can I just get another one, maybe a purple one (the one I have now is a plain red/white one). Can I get 2 more or will they pick on the other?


The tank is a 32 gallon red sea.

 

[cloak]

Unless the fish jumped you might have an unwanted lurker. I would definitely look into that first.. Don't forget about the Pistol shrimp though. It might take some doing and it would suck to sacrifice a fish for this. Get the flashlight and do some homework IMO. GL.

BTW how big is the tank and what else do you have in it?

 

[jasonrusso]

Unless the fish jumped you might have an unwanted lurker. I would definitely look into that first.. Don't forget about the Pistol shrimp though. It might take some doing and it would suck to sacrifice a fish for this. Get the flashlight and do some homework IMO. GL.

BTW how big is the tank and what else do you have in it?

2 clowns and a blue spot goby. The pistol shrimp has been in the tank since May. The firefish since December.

What kind of lurker?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Firefish are intolerant of congenerics in captivity.

 

[jasonrusso]

Firefish are intolerant of congenerics in captivity.

I had 2 in the same tank for 9 months. They slept in the same hole together.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had 2 in the same tank for 9 months. They slept in the same hole together.

I should have added, unless they are a pr.

 

[cloak]

2 clowns and a blue spot goby. The pistol shrimp has been in the tank since May. The firefish since December.

What kind of lurker?

Did you use live rock?

 

[jasonrusso]

Did you use live rock?

Yes

 

[Grsfish]

MAke sure you have a cover. I used to not have one and came home to it about 5 feet away from my tank

 

[jasonrusso]

MAke sure you have a cover. I used to not have one and came home to it about 5 feet away from my tank

I have a Red Sea Max C-130. It has a top.

 

[jasonrusso]

So, I had one response saying that I can't add another firefish. Does every one agree with that?

 

[jporter17]

I added two purple fire fish a few months ago and they are doing great in my 130G tank. They were in different tanks at the LFS and one was bigger in hopes they would pair. They do sleep next to each other next to my clams. That’s my short term experience. JP

 

[jasonrusso]

I added two purple fire fish a few months ago and they are doing great in my 130G tank. They were in different tanks at the LFS and one was bigger in hopes they would pair. They do sleep next to each other next to my clams. That’s my short term experience. JP

Did you have an existing firefish or are those the only 2?

 

[PatW]

I have a pair of firefish. They do fine together. I had two pair in a 300 gallon. They took separate wings of the tank. But one pair asserted itself and the other pair became more and more reclusive...... I have heard that multiples can be housed, but it has not worked for me.

 

[ScooterV]

My blue spot watchman ate my firefish They were fine in the DT, but during a fallow period and in QT it didn't take long for the firefish to be missing one morning and the goby with a visibly distended belly and a guilty look on that grumpy face. My blue spot is large though, even if it still looked like the firefish had to be a tight fit. Just another possibility if yours is also large.

 

[jasonrusso]

I have a pair of firefish. They do fine together. I had two pair in a 300 gallon. They took separate wings of the tank. But one pair asserted itself and the other pair became more and more reclusive...... I have heard that multiples can be housed, but it has not worked for me.

Wow, they found the other pair in a 300? I have a 32 gal.


I'm just wondering if I can add 1, or will the other fight with him.

 

[jasonrusso]

My blue spot watchman ate my firefish They were fine in the DT, but during a fallow period and in QT it didn't take long for the firefish to be missing one morning and the goby with a visibly distended belly and a guilty look on that grumpy face. My blue spot is large though, even if it still looked like the firefish had to be a tight fit. Just another possibility if yours is also large.

My blue spot is bigger than them, but I don't think that's the case. He doesn't look any fatter and was still hungry that day.

 

[jporter17]

Did you have an existing firefish or are those the only 2?

They are the only two and we’re added at the same time.

 

[jasonrusso]

So I still haven't got an answer, can I add another firefish? Maybe a different color or will they fight?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Unless they are a bonded pr, firefish are intolerant of each other, so no, do not add another firefish.