Help with firefish hiding after new additions.

[good.reef]

I've got a 40 gallon Nuvo and I just added 2 fathead anthias and my firefish hasn't come out of his barnacle to eat for two days. The bigger anthias isn't really a bully but he's pushy and he's the biggest fish in the tank. It's a temporary situation, as my Waterbox Frag 105.4 is coming this week but it will be a few weeks at least before it's ready for fish.

Stock list:
Scooter Blenny
2x Pink Streak Wrasse
Tailspot Blenny
Firefish
2x Sunburst Anthias

I'm concerned if he doesn't come out he will starve before I can move any of the fish to the new tank.

Should I put him in a breeder box with a barnacle and try to feed him separately? Should I remove him and take him back to my LFS? I feel bad because he was one of my first fish and he's always been skittish but he is terrified of the larger fathead anthias.

I'm sure many of you will suggest returning the anthias but that isn't an option. I just need to hold on for a few weeks.

Any suggestions?

 

[fishguy242]

hi just watch for bullying ,will be ok without food couple days ,try to put food near it ,no major disruptions until needed

 

[good.reef]

hi just watch for bullying ,will be ok without food couple days ,try to put food near it ,no major disruptions until needed

Thanks. So I have been careful to always only stock peaceful fish. So I'm not sure what actually constitutes bullying. The larger anthias is definitely pushy but I haven't seen him biting or chasing any of the fish but he will swim over to them if he doesn't like where they are and he does make sure they all know he's in charge. I know it's a tank size issue and I wouldn't have put them in the tank unless the new tank was on it's way. I just feel bad because the firefish was always out and about at feeding time.

 

[fishguy242]

how long has it been

 

[good.reef]

how long has it been

About 3 days now

 

[fishguy242]

try putting food near barnacle

 

[Super Fly]

It'll be fine, mine disappears for weeks sometimes.

 

[good.reef]

I'll try to make sure there's something there for him. I mean he's not even peeking his head out. I have to use a flashlight to see him in there.

 

[good.reef]

It'll be fine, mine disappears for weeks sometimes.

Wow really? That's good to know, I've been used to seeing mine all day everyday for 9 months so I guess now not seeing him at all is what's alarming me.

 

[Super Fly]

Wow really? That's good to know, I've been used to seeing mine all day everyday for 9 months so I guess now not seeing him at all is what's alarming me.

Yes. one time I thought it was CUC food bc I hadnt seen it for many weeks. Then all of a sudden there it was! From then on I stopped panicking if the firefish is MIA for a while.