New Purple Fire Fish Behavior?

[Matty Ice]

So I got my first first yesterday. The kids chose a purple fire fish. Measured the salinity it came in, 1.021. My 10 gal QT tank has been setup and cycled for about a week using a Marineland HOB with ceramic rings and filter with carbon removed, Heater set at 77-78°F and air stone with a salinity of 1.020. I did a 50% water changed to bring the salinity up to 1.021 to match the LFS water. Once the drip acclimation started I waited until the water volume doubled. I drained half then waited for it to double again. I then added the fish to the QT. Water parameters (salinity 1.021, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5, pH 8 using ATC refractometer and API test kit). I also added 20ml API Quick start and 10 ml of API stress coat. Had the lights on for a few minutes to watch the fish then turned them off for the night. This morning I turnrd on the light and I fed a cube of frozen mysis shrimp and the fish at most of it but waited for it to come to the bottom where it has been hanging out.

My question, is it normal for the fish to be on the bottom corner doing nothing? I am assuming it's stressed and getting acclimated to its new home. It swam around a little to get the food. Just wanted to ask.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Expect them to hide often at first
How did you acclimate the fish?
What is salinity and temperature?

 

[Matty Ice]

I did drip acclamation it took about an hour total. I put Fish from the bag he came in into a small container With the water he was in. I then used a drip about three drips per minute from the quarantine tank water into the container the fish was in salinity for both LFS water and my QT water was 1.021 temperature 77-78°F

 

[Unitylover]

when I got my firefish, it was very timid, and hid in the corners and holes in the rock

 

[Unitylover]

cue a day or two later, it is out in the open, eating, all the average stuff. Still hides often though

 

[FiddlersReef]

One firefish at an entire cube of frozen food? That seems like a crazy hungry fish. I don't think I've ever fed an entire cube to my whole tank. They lose interest way before that, and there are big fish in there.

 

[Matty Ice]

Maybe not the entire cube. They're mini cubes and mostly melted away

 

[Matty Ice]

Ok I’m feeling a little better. Lazy Cocoa, my kids picked the name, is ding a little better today. Instead of hugging the bottom corner of the tank, it’s now swimming in the lower corner.

 

[Turtle_reef]

So I got my first first yesterday. The kids chose a purple fire fish. Measured the salinity it came in, 1.021. My 10 gal QT tank has been setup and cycled for about a week using a Marineland HOB with ceramic rings and filter with carbon removed, Heater set at 77-78°F and air stone with a salinity of 1.020. I did a 50% water changed to bring the salinity up to 1.021 to match the LFS water. Once the drip acclimation started I waited until the water volume doubled. I drained half then waited for it to double again. I then added the fish to the QT. Water parameters (salinity 1.021, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5, pH 8 using ATC refractometer and API test kit). I also added 20ml API Quick start and 10 ml of API stress coat. Had the lights on for a few minutes to watch the fish then turned them off for the night. This morning I turnrd on the light and I fed a cube of frozen mysis shrimp and the fish at most of it but waited for it to come to the bottom where it has been hanging out.

My question, is it normal for the fish to be on the bottom corner doing nothing? I am assuming it's stressed and getting acclimated to its new home. It swam around a little to get the food. Just wanted to ask.

When I first got my firefish he was at the bottom of the tank mainly and in corners mine was acting pretty weird at the biggining kept kinda leaning to the one side not really moving I was pretty concerned I thought my acclimation went well but might not have but he pulled threw and the next day he was okay I just left the lights off and tried to let him adjust to it. Now he's an energetic fish zooming to catch all the little shrimp he can find kinda a little piglet lol. First pic was the first day and the second is him now. I'd give it a couple days I left my lights off for a couple days just to let him adjust to it. You can always try that it and see if it might help! Good luck!

 

[Unitylover]

SAME, first day, he would hide in the rocks and in the caves. He was beingpushed around by my clown. Now, he is more outgoing, eats, and isn't bullied by the clown.

 

[Matty Ice]

Awesome. Good to know this seems normal. I was worried I did something wrong during the acclimation.

 

[Unitylover]

yes, it should clear up in a day. I got my firefish a few days ago.

 

[Cell]

If you aren't medicating, I'd give it some rocks to hide in.

 

[FiddlersReef]

They do like to find a hidey-hole. I had a 1/2" PVC "T" fitting in my qt tank and he loved to just hang out in that. I think they are more comfortable in a tight space.

 

[Matty Ice]

You guys were spot on with the hiding. I had some extra dry rock from my initial build. I put a piece with good hiding spots in the qt. The fish checked it out for ten minutes and found a cozy spot underneath. I’m not medicating unless I see a reason to. Gonna monitor for a few weeks then drop him in the display.

 

[Unitylover]

No need to medicate. 14 days is a decent minimum for a qt. 7 is on the edge, but also barely fine

 

[Cell]

1 month minimum for observational qt but 5-6 weeks is best imo.

 

[Matty Ice]

I was planning on 3-4 weeks. Funny side note, i watched a bunch of air bubbles come from the fish, then some poo came out. I didn’t know fish let out air bubbles

 

[Unitylover]

I was planning on 3-4 weeks. Funny side note, i watched a bunch of air bubbles come from the fish, then some poo came out. I didn’t know fish let out air bubbles

they actually fart