helfrichi firefish tankmates?

[joec]

Will one get overly picked on by a pair of ocellaris clownfish or Timor wrasse in 36x18x21 53 gallon?

Clowns will be added last.

Other tank mates are Yellowhead jawfish, TS Blenny, pink streaked wrasse, Mccoskers.

8 fish may be too many, I'll see how it goes

 

[Jesterrace]

That is too many for a 53 gallon that isn't 4 feet long. The Timor Wrasse will likely outgrow that tank. As for the Helfrichi it is entirely possible that the Timor and clownfish will pick on it. Firefish have the misfortune of being small brightly colored cowards which makes them easy targets. My Purple Firefish was the number 1 target of any assertive fish that entered my tank when I had one.

 

[joec]

That is too many for a 53 gallon that isn't 4 feet long. The Timor Wrasse will likely outgrow that tank. As for the Helfrichi it is entirely possible that the Timor and clownfish will pick on it. Firefish have the misfortune of being small brightly colored cowards which makes them easy targets. My Purple Firefish was the number 1 target of any assertive fish that entered my tank when I had one.

Thanks, I'll skip the firefish. I only have the Timor, jawfish and TS blenny at this point. I'll maybe just add three more 3" fish and call 6 total, fully stocked. The Timor is only 2.5". Minimum tanks size on every site I looked at stated 50G, including live Aquaria and Divers Den, and Timor's are suppose to be a bit less active/more docile halichoeres species. If he gets too big, I'll have to try to find a good home for him.

 

[Jesterrace]

Unfortunately websites list tank size by gallons, rather than dimensions. With few exceptions (ie Possum, Pink Streaked) Wrasses really do need that 4 foot long running room to be happy long term. My Melanurus (same parent family as the Timor) and Blue Star Leopard (also listed as 50 gallons minimum) sure make use of the 4 foot length in my 90 gallon. The Timor will be fine for now in there, he just might get cramped as he gets bigger. I started my Melanurus out in a 36 gallon when he was about the same size as your Timor, but in a few months I moved him to my current 90 gallon (48Lx18Wx25H). Good call on the Helfrichi. I love the colors of the Helfrichi but their cost and timid nature don't make them a good choice IMHO. I will personally never own a dartfish again after the experiences I had with my Purple Firefish and Scissortail Dartfish (bullied by just about any semi-assertive fish that came in the tank) and spent way too much time in hiding for my liking.

 

[joec]

I'll monitor the Timor size situation, now I'm a little bummed about it. I would have a hard time after caring for him to have a more careless person get him due to tank size considerations and then have something happen to him. I would never just give him to a LFS. At that point I would rather give him to an experienced hobbyist for free rather than put him in potential jeopardy via the unknown.

 

[Jesterrace]

I think you should be fine for a while, and who knows it might be perfectly fine long term, I just personally wouldn't put a Halichoeres in a tank that is less than 4 feet long for long term.