Purple firefish or Red firefish?

[freshwaterandmarine]

I've been wanting to get a firefish for my nano tank but I don't know which one to get. Which one is less aggressive and easier to have in a nano tank?

 

[Biglew11]

I think they're both about the same. I've had both a red and purple (not at same time) the red one was out most of the time pretty bold but non aggressive at all. My purple has been in the tank about two weeks, And is still pretty skittish.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

I think they're both about the same. I've had both a red and purple (not at same time) the red one was out most of the time pretty bold but non aggressive at all. My purple has been in the tank about two weeks, And is still pretty skittish.

thanks for the reply. I think I might get the red firefish

 

[KWT]

My wife picked out 4 red, they were shy for about 3 days, now they are out all the time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Red cheaper and less skidish. I have both and purple has become more sociable

 

[CavalierReef]

"Twitch" is really an interesting fish to watch. Easily adapted to my tank, etas anything and doesn't harass my docile watchman goby.

 

[thewalkingdad]

Have you considered an Exquisite Firefish? Usually cheaper than purple, but more expensive than red. I think it's the best looking firefish.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

Red cheaper and less skidish. I have both and purple has become more sociable

I will go get the red firefish. I have a carpenter wrasse and an ocellaris clownfish. hopefully they don't fight.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

"Twitch" is really an interesting fish to watch. Easily adapted to my tank, etas anything and doesn't harass my docile watchman goby.

nice fish! thanks for replying! I will go get one and hopefully he will do well with my carpenter wrasse and clownfish

 

[CavalierReef]

nice fish! thanks for replying! I will go get one and hopefully he will do well with my carpenter wrasse and clownfish

I have mine with a McCosker's Wrasse and they have no issues with each other.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Got my firefish from a buddy because the other one he had decided to attack it. Looked rough at first but is thriving now. Very skiddish fish though, lives in a cave of my rock work and only comes out for food and short moments.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

I have mine with a McCosker's Wrasse and they have no issues with each other.

nice fish! thanks for replying!

 

[ExpensiveSushi]

My purple firefish in my Biocube has been a model citizen. Lives in the front of the tank while lights are on, in a cave at night. Eats just about anything that i put in.

 

[Cell]

If you dont have an aesthetic preference, then go with the cheapest!

 

[OrionN]

My wife picked out 4 red, they were shy for about 3 days, now they are out all the time.

You should keep them in single or if you are lucky enough, a pair. Keeping a group will end up to 1 pair or a single one with time. They live as monogamous pair, even in the wild picture often show them in group. I think that is becasue of spacing in the wild. When I attempted to keep them as a group in the past they chased each other resulting in jumping out of tank or into the sump.
Good luck.
I would keep the tank cover and remove any fish that jump into the sump and bring them back to the LFS.

 

[KWT]

Thank you for the info, I will keep an eye on them for sure. They have been in the for about 3 weeks now, and all 4 hung out together. This last week, now and then they pair up and move apart to each end of the tank. They have some room to move about.

 

[saltyhog]

Have you considered an Exquisite Firefish? Usually cheaper than purple, but more expensive than red. I think it's the best looking firefish.

I agree with the exquisite. I have one in my nano and he is a great community member. He shares the tank with 3 Panamic barnacle blennies and a Randall's assessor. Always out front and never bothers anything.

 

[Jason777]

I've had both, a red in the past and a purple now. Both are easy to keep and not aggressive at all. They are jumpers so you will need a cover.

 

[Sharkbait19]

My personal opinion, red ones look the best. The long fin along with the gradient color scheme makes them just so mesmerizing. They’re also the cheapest, so that’s a plus.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

I think they're both about the same. I've had both a red and purple (not at same time) the red one was out most of the time pretty bold but non aggressive at all. My purple has been in the tank about two weeks, And is still pretty skittish.

My purple hid for 1 day and then came out all day after that. I seriously don't know what happened. He just came out and stayed there. I guess all fish are different.