Help!!!!! Firefish gone missing !!!!!

[ShrimpDemolisher]

Since this afternoon I haven't seen my firefish. He's always out and about in the front of the tank. Maybe he's hiding in a cave somewhere, but when I used a stick and poked at the rock to make sound I didn't see it come out. The scary part is that there's a pistol shrimp in the tank. Maybe the firefish went into the hole and got killed? :/

 

[tankstudy]

Look around your tank on the floor. Sometimes, they'll go carpet surfing.

 

[ShrimpDemolisher]

Look around your tank on the floor. Sometimes, they'll go carpet surfing.

Yes I have checked everywhere. :/

 

[VKP01]

Does the tank have an overflow or back chamber? If he jumped out, do you have other pets that might have gotten it? If you think he may be hiding you could try feeding and see if he comes out.

 

[WallyB]

I posted a "Help fish gone" once too.

Of course if you have no Net Top, then first place to look is on the Floor. Firefish will certainly jump if spooked (by other fish, or you).
When I lost a fish in past (jumping out), you'll be surprised how much distance they can flop, or flop themselves under something.

However one time a fish didn't jump out since (net was tight), but disappeared. It was similar size to a FireFish.
I tore apart my sump. Nothing.
Then after a few days, I decided to look into my overflow box (which I looked into before). Nothing.
But I noticed a bit of color, so stopped the flow. He was in there in corner fighting the current to not go down drain.

Also I too had a firefish. He was around in tank, but one day just dissapeared.
I forgot about him after doing a good search.
1 year later I was upgrading the tank. Removed all fish, corals, then rocks.
Tank was cloudy and I started draining.
When there was barely any water left, there was the Firefish.
He must have just not wanted to come out. Must have been eating catching food drifting by in whatever cave he was (for a whole year, without being seen once).

All the best, I know how you feel. Hope you find him Alive.

 

[Idoc]

They are very skittish and he may just be hiding for awhile. When i first got mine, he disappeared for over a week and i thought he was dead... then out of no where, there he was one day swimming around. Maybe just give it some time... poking the rocks is probably just going to scare him more, though.

 

[Gareth elliott]

+1 above.

if did indeed perish, will not have a noticeable impact on your parameters unless you are watching ammonia on a seneye. They are not large.
When mine died of old age did go into his borrow to die. Only know it passed after some snails dragged it out.

 

[WallyB]

Actually. A good question would be how long have you had the Fire Fish?

If for weeks, months that's one thing.

But if just brought home a few days ago, then that's something else. He is hiding till he feels safe and is ready to come out. Scared of you and your stick.

 

[Michael Gray]

I lost mine searched everywhere then fed and it came out. Mine found the smallest hole in rock and that was his home. After more investigating. I had a orchid dottyback that punked him whenever he came out so he darted back in thia tiny hole. I since caught the dottyback and gave him away. Now the firefish is out and about all day with my clowns and wrasses. I love the fish. So awesome.

He didnt vanish. Hes In your tank and alive. I've read they can take nutrients out of water. Not sure if it's true. But I wouldnt worry. Sometimes mine would pop out if I turned off return and all pumps. Water being calm always drew mine out

 

[AZMSGT]

They are exceptional at hiding. Tapping rocks and even moving them will not expose them. It makes them more determined to hide. I had 2 that when I would lift a rock they stayed on the bottom while I lifted it. It was the only rock in the tank... when they get spooked they stay spooked for a very long time too. Weeks to be exact. I had one that got spoked from water changes, it was out all the time.. after I got to close with the hose it stayed hidden the rest of it’s life. Only came out to eat.. sad really.

 

[foxt]

When mine suddenly went missing, I discovered that it had made it down to the sump ...

 

[Paul B]

When I buy a firefish, I quickly get him home. Very gently trying not to startle him, remove him from the bag and say good bye.
Then, to save time, I throw him on the floor because that's where they all end up anyway.

They are jumpers.