New Firefish acting weird

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 29, 2023

I recently purchased a purple firefish from my local fish store 3 days ago, but these last two days he has been acting weirdly. I don’t know if it’s just stress or a disease (my two clowns are acting completely fine) all day today he has been laying on his side behind a rock in my tank, with his fins pressed to his body and rapid gill movement. He ate a lot of live baby brine shrimp this morning, but not the second time I fed the fish. Can someone tell me if I should be worried?or is this normal new firefish behavior?

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 30, 2023

My dad thinks that the Halloween hermit and other hermits may have eaten it. I think that it died last night from stress and the hermits ate it

Idech · Jun 30, 2023

lhetes_tinyreef said:
My dad thinks that the Halloween hermit and other hermits may have eaten it. I think that it died last night from stress and the hermits ate it

It might be the case. Next time you add a fish, make sure there are caves for it (when needed) and don’t chase it. Leave it be. If it comes for food, add vitamins and more feedings per day, until it has settled in and is comfortable.

Anything that causes stress to a fish, especially when new, can weaken the immune system, cause illness and ultimately death.

Townes_Van_Camp · Jun 30, 2023

Idech said:
It might be the case. Next time you add a fish, make sure there are caves for it (when needed) and don’t chase it. Leave it be.

Anything that causes stress to a fish, especially when new, can weaken the immune system, cause illness and ultimately death.

Small caves. 3/4 or 1" PVC would even be good. Maybe 4 inches long with a cap on the end. Only temporary while they settle in.

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 30, 2023

Well thank you for your help with this

Townes_Van_Camp · Jun 30, 2023

lhetes_tinyreef said:
Well thank you for your help with this

Don' let it discourage you. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. No way hermits ate him that fast. Unless you have dozens.

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 30, 2023

Townes_Van_Camp said:
Don' let it discourage you. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. No way hermits ate him that fast. Unless you have dozens.

7 plus a Halloween hermit

Townes_Van_Camp · Jun 30, 2023

lhetes_tinyreef said:
7 plus a Halloween hermit

I still think that's a stretch. If you ever saw a hermit body out of the shell you would see why I say this. They are very small.

I don't believe 8 hermits could completely ingest a firefish in a few hours at any rate, good luck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 30, 2023

Townes_Van_Camp said:
I still think that's a stretch. If you ever saw a hermit body out of the shell you would see why I say this. They are very small.

I don't believe 8 hermits could completely ingest a firefish in a few hours at any rate, good luck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Yeah I’ll just wait a bit

lhetes_tinyreef · Jun 30, 2023

Firefish confirmed dead. Found noticeable pieces of him being consumed by hermits

jabberwock · Jun 30, 2023

lhetes_tinyreef said:
Firefish confirmed dead. Found noticeable pieces of him being consumed by hermits

Sorry to hear that.

Townes_Van_Camp · Jun 30, 2023

lhetes_tinyreef said:
Firefish confirmed dead. Found noticeable pieces of him being consumed by hermits

Sorry to hear that.

sascoaquatics · Jul 24, 2023

I am very sorry about your fire fish. For the future fish you buy I thought this could help! I have a nano tank as well and I have found that more timid fish like fire fish don’t do so well. I’m struggling to find a fish that can hold its own these clowns just become territorial in smaller tanks. You could try a mirror stuck to the outside of the tank so the clownfish will be distracted by themselves. My clownfish scare the fish without necessarily attacking them causing them to do what your fire fish did.