I rarely see my firefish

[danielm5]

I'm starting a new IM 15 tank (see my build thread). I've got a couple of firefish almost 2 weeks ago, however, I rarely see them.

I was told to feed them twice a day. I tried but they've never been out when I return to my home in the evening and food would go to the filter. Because of that I'm feeding them only in the morning now. Sometimes I see one of them to go out, quickly eat something, and hide I again. A few times I saw the two of them but not in the last few days. Sometimes I see one of them below the rocks but most of the time I don't see them at all. I'm feeding them Frozen Reef Plankton as recommended at my LFS.

Is this to be expected or should I be worried?

 

[His Coral Highness]

They eventually will be out more. I’d give it 2-3 weeks. But they startle easily so don’t expect to see too much of them

 

[Sharkbait19]

Are there other fish in there? They are easily intimidated and frequently will hide. They do venture out as they get more comfortable though.

 

[apb03]

Mine only comes out to eat. Unfortunately, my hawkfish hunts him.

 

[paragrouper]

I have one and the only time I saw him for months was at feeding time. Now he is starting to spend a bit more time out of his hole and out in front where he can be seen.

give Them some time

 

[Doctorgori]

sometimes they can go MIA for weeks….
OTOH they are also jumpers

 

[danielm5]

Are there other fish in there? They are easily intimidated and frequently will hide. They do venture out as they get more comfortable though.

No other fish yet. They're my first.

 

[danielm5]

I have one and the only time I saw him for months was at feeding time. Now he is starting to spend a bit more time out of his hole and out in front where he can be seen.

give Them some time

Good to know! I wasn't sure what to expect.

 

[danielm5]

Mine only comes out to eat. Unfortunately, my hawkfish hunts him.

Sorry to hear! They're really beautiful when they're out.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm starting a new IM 15 tank (see my build thread). I've got a couple of firefish almost 2 weeks ago, however, I rarely see them.

I was told to feed them twice a day. I tried but they've never been out when I return to my home in the evening and food would go to the filter. Because of that I'm feeding them only in the morning now. Sometimes I see one of them to go out, quickly eat something, and hide I again. A few times I saw the two of them but not in the last few days. Sometimes I see one of them below the rocks but most of the time I don't see them at all. I'm feeding them Frozen Reef Plankton as recommended at my LFS.

Is this to be expected or should I be worried?

Very typical of this fish and after 3+ years, mine too comes out to eat and Once in a while comes out period. They hide very well in pores of rock and at times , you forget you have one due to their absence.

 

[danielm5]

Very typical of this fish and after 3+ years, mine too comes out to eat and Once in a while comes out period. They hide very well in pores of rock and at times , you forget you have one due to their absence.

They do hide very well!! When I was putting them in the tank the very first time I was interrupted and I had to do something else for a few minutes. When I came back I saw only one. As the tank had nothing else I began moving the rocks and searching to make sure they were both inside. I didn't think they'd jumped out without me seeing but I had to be sure. To cut the story short, I didn't see it and I was worried, so I took the rocks out and put them on the floor. No sign of it. I was really puzzled and then I saw it on the floor next to the rock. They went to the tank and they were fine. They were eating well for about a week. It was just recently I began seeing less of them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They do hide very well!! When I was putting them in the tank the very first time I was interrupted and I had to do something else for a few minutes. When I came back I saw only one. As the tank had nothing else I began moving the rocks and searching to make sure they were both inside. I didn't think they'd jumped out without me seeing but I had to be sure. To cut the story short, I didn't see it and I was worried, so I took the rocks out and put them on the floor. No sign of it. I was really puzzled and then I saw it on the floor next to the rock. They went to the tank and they were fine. They were eating well for about a week. It was just recently I began seeing less of them.

Other would be due to their thin body shape, they are capable of sneaking into tank overflows

 

[Nemo&Friends]

I have 2 for about 2 years. They are now out almost all the time. But they do get scared very easily and disappear in a blink of an eye in their den. Do not hunt them down, with no other fish they will feel more secure and come out. It is good that they have a good hiding place, it will help them being less stressed and more adventurous.
Once they disappeared for 3 or 4 weeks, I thought they had died, but then one day, there they were.

 

[danielm5]

Other would be due to their thin body shape, they are capable of sneaking into tank overflows

Maybe that's why I saw a post of someone putting some grid there. I wasn't sure why someone would do that.

 

[danielm5]

I have 2 for about 2 years. They are now out almost all the time. But they do get scared very easily and disappear in a blink of an eye in their den. Do not hunt them down, with no other fish they will feel more secure and come out. It is good that they have a good hiding place, it will help them being less stressed and more adventurous.
Once they disappeared for 3 or 4 weeks, I thought they had died, but then one day, there they were.

Thank you for the info!

 

[littlefoxx]

I'm starting a new IM 15 tank (see my build thread). I've got a couple of firefish almost 2 weeks ago, however, I rarely see them.

I was told to feed them twice a day. I tried but they've never been out when I return to my home in the evening and food would go to the filter. Because of that I'm feeding them only in the morning now. Sometimes I see one of them to go out, quickly eat something, and hide I again. A few times I saw the two of them but not in the last few days. Sometimes I see one of them below the rocks but most of the time I don't see them at all. I'm feeding them Frozen Reef Plankton as recommended at my LFS.

Is this to be expected or should I be worried?

These fish are super super shy. It took me a few months for my two to be out but when they are comfortable they will be out. How many do you have? If its not male/female pair there likely is bullying going on

 

[littlefoxx]

I must have two very brave ones because Ive got them with maroons, a dwarf lionfish, angel and a marine betta that are way bigger than them. They are out all the time

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Welcome to the club. Mine has been in my tank for over 3 months now. It only comes out of its cave to feed. No other fish picks at it. I think the last post.in my build thread is me rejoicing over its appearance and health.

Try a 24-36 hour black out. It's what I did just before he started showing up. The blackout wasn't for him. But after it he has been much more emboldened. I've now seen him steal food from my flame hawkfish.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

sometimes they can go MIA for weeks….
OTOH they are also jumpers

This. If you dont have some sort of lid, get one. They tend to enter the apollo program!

 

[littlefoxx]

Welcome to the club. Mine has been in my tank for over 3 months now. It only comes out of its cave to feed. No other fish picks at it. I think the last post.in my build thread is me rejoicing over its appearance and health.

Try a 24-36 hour black out. It's what I did just before he started showing up. The blackout wasn't for him. But after it he has been much more emboldened. I've now seen him steal food from my flame hawkfish.

My purple steals food from my lionfish!! My helfrichi isnt as bold, but for my purple to steal food from a lionfish is super bold!