Purple Firefish not doing well

stevo01 · Oct 27, 2016

I agree with eatbreakfast. The firefish looks scared. As mentioned a clownfish can be a bully in a small space. There may have been an early display of aggression and you never saw it. Or it may have been in an altercation in the store/wild. Give the firefish a good safe place to hide, to reduce stress. They like sandy caves under rocks. Another option would be an acclimation box that goes inside the DT.

Nano101 · Oct 27, 2016

just made this

Nano101 · Oct 27, 2016

Should I black-out today for acclimation sake?

Brew12 · Oct 27, 2016

Nano101 said:
just made this

That is brilliant!

Tuffyyyyy · Oct 27, 2016

I've seen you say that your clown just swims happy all the time. You have to realize that he may have another personality when you're not there. My clowns are fine while the lights are on but I've seen the bigger one nudge the smaller one a bunch when the lights are off. They're still getting their sexing worked out.

Looks like a great solution you have come up with though and your scape is very pretty!

stevo01 · Oct 27, 2016

Nano101 said:
just made this

Pretty awesome work there!

Chrisfish · Oct 27, 2016

I don't disagree about clowns having aggressive personalities, especially when lights are out but my BULLY is my Blenny!! And the lights don't even have to be out.

stevo01 · Oct 27, 2016

Chrisfish said:
I don't disagree about clowns having aggressive personalities, especially when lights are out but my BULLY is my Blenny!! And the lights don't even have to be out.

What species Chris?

Nano101 · Oct 27, 2016

Lol, the firefish jumped out of minuscule gap between my "in tank fuge" and the screen. He is back in his corner, but seems much more active. If he is not swimming in the DT within 24 hours I will try again.

Chrisfish · Oct 27, 2016

stevo01 said:
What species Chris?

My tail spot Blenny

Chrisfish · Oct 27, 2016

Nano101 said:
Lol, the firefish jumped out of minuscule gap between my "in tank fuge" and the screen. He is back in his corner, but seems much more active. If he is not swimming in the DT within 24 hours I will try again.

Best of luck !!

Tahoe61 · Oct 27, 2016

Give the fish time. They are extremely passive and shy for the first month or so. They need bolt holes and will hide when you are in front of the tank. While I like the container you made, it will likely be more stressful for the fish. Fire Fish hide, and only time makes them more comfortable.

Nano101 · Oct 27, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
Give the fish time. They are extremely passive and shy for the first month or so. They need bolt holes and will hide when you are in front of the tank. While I like the container you made, it will likely be more stressful for the fish. Fire Fish hide, and only time makes them more comfortable.

thanks for the advice. The little guy has plenty of holes available to him, I just wish he'd take advantage of them.

Tahoe61 · Oct 27, 2016

Nano101 said:
thanks for the advice. The little guy has plenty of holes available to him, I just wish he'd take advantage of them.

He will if he is not being bullied by the other fish. Fire Fish just take time, they do not ship well and are not as easily acclimated.
Consider leaving the lights out for a full day. If bulling is going on by the clown, put the clown in the fish corral for a brief time out. Consider adding a little more rock to change up territories and add more hiding areas.

Good Luck

Nano101 · Oct 27, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
He will if he is not being bullied by the other fish. Fire Fish just take time, they do not ship well and are not as easily acclimated.
Consider leaving the lights out for a full day. If bulling is going on by the clown, put the clown in the fish corral for a brief time out. Consider adding a little more rock to change up territories and add more hiding areas.

Good Luck

I'm presently off work and have been watching my tank all day (though not at night) and as far as I can see the clown doesn't give 2 craps about the firefish. Hard to tell what happens at night though.

Glasswalker · Oct 27, 2016

I can certainly say if the fire fish is breathing normally, he is likely just scared... When we got ours he hid for like 2 months. No sign of bullying, just super skittish fish.

He now hangs out in the open more, but if you move quickly in front of the tank, or the bigger fish get within 6" he still vanishes pretty quick.

Ours also didn't eat for a bit because he was too afraid. Eventually after a few days he got hungry enough that when we distracted the other fish to the far end of the tank, he would eat... But it was tricky for a while...

Also our tank is much larger than yours, at 4' long, and for the first month we had only 2 other clowns, but he was still super skittish. So anyway, keep him protected make him feel safe. Hopefully it gets better.

But your tank might be a bit small.

Good luck!

Travis Rider · Oct 27, 2016

I have a purple firefish and he is very shy. He hides whenever someone walks by the tank. When we first got him he would stay in his cave the majority of the time. It took almost three months before he got comfortable enough to be out. We bought another firefish and they seem to stay out more often now. The firefish is one of the most 'scarred' fish I have seen and will always run and hide. Give yours time and he will get more comfortable.

stevo01 · Oct 27, 2016

+1 Tahoe61. A dart hole. Nano, I Really like your rock scape. I think it will work for him. That flat rock in the front. You could pull it up and round out a bowl in the sand. Put the rock back on top. Then give him some time to find it, or you can try using food to manipulate him into the area. He will use the tip of his tail to feel around for for a hole. My D. goby makes life for the firefish very easy in providing a well kept cave, something to consider. I did like the DIY acclimation box. Just needed a lid. Firefish want to be near the bottom of the tank tho. So a weighed down box would be better.