Firefish suddenly injured

Cerberusfish · Mar 8, 2020

I have 2 firefish in my 75 gallon reef. They were doing well, had some fins get nipped a little a couple weeks ago but they were growing back, yesterday they were both out and looked healthy and happy. A couple days ago I've added a pincushion urchin to my sump, a couple snails, some zoas, acans and a gorgonian. Those are the only corals. Had my LFS test my water and it looks great. 1 of my firefish was jammed awkwardly under a rock at the front of the tank (opposite from where it normally likes to be) with mangled tail, and several tears along the fins top and bottom. On its face were red marks that kind of looked like advanced HLLE. I went to get him out because I thought he was dead and then he moved over to the front glass looking very stressed, and when o went to take a picture of him he was gone. All the other fish seem very happy and healthy including the other firefish. I've been under the assumption these 2 are a mated pair but could I be wrong? I got them out of the same tank at the same time and have had them for a few months and normally they stay close to eachother.

Big G · Mar 8, 2020

They can and will turn on each other. And as you noted, at times they seem to get along.

Cerberusfish · Mar 8, 2020

So you think it was just the other one attacking the injured one? Will he be ok? I have no way to quarantine him.

Big G · Mar 8, 2020

Yes. Probably best to re-home the fish. Sorry.

Cerberusfish · Mar 9, 2020

I was able to catch him here. He only seems to come out at night now and hides within an hour of the lights turning on. He seems to have found a little divet here he's been resting in at the front glass. Keeps raising and lowering his long dorsal spine.

Cerberusfish · Mar 14, 2020

UPDATE: the injured firefish is out today after not seeing him for 2 days. Still VERY beat up and looking a bit stressed, but swimming around the tank out in the open, with the lights on I might add, and is even eating! Think maybe this issues are being resolved? Maybe it was a different tank mate hiding in the rocks that ambushed him? I've got a peppermint shrimp o haven't seen in a while that I got with 2 others that were pretty mean.