Another Firefish hiding thread

[ZenGuitarGuy]

Hi all,
So I recently transferred a firefish from QT to my display tank. The tank is 65G, and already has a yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp. The firefish was in QT with the tiniest chromis (thumbnail size). They appeared to be doing well together, both were eating, out of hiding, etc.

I transferred the firefish first, then the chromis the next day. The firefish hasn't come out of hiding at all; I also don't think he's eaten anything. It's been three days. There is no evidence that anyone is being bullied. The goby/shrimp live on the other side of the tank, and never leave their general area from what I've seen. The chromis has been swimming around in the top 1/3 of the tank since he was put in, and hasn't gone anywhere near the firefish. I can literally see the firefish hiding, head first in a crease of rock/sand. I dropped an algae wafer right beside where he is so he can graze.

I know firefish in general are very timid, and I've seen a lot of posts about this. I'm just not sure if this kind of hiding is normal, or if he will come out eventually, or if there is a problem. I also wonder if there is a way I can entice him out of hiding. Or I'm just geing paranoid.

Any feedback welcome, thanks...Martin.

 

[PeterHall]

If firefish was eating in qt I wouldn't worry about it. When I added a firefish to my tank it hid for 5-7 days and then came out to eat. I added a second firefish and they both hid for a few days and now they're out. Once they get used to the tank they'll come out. Mine like to eat mysis and brine so you could try that.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[ZenGuitarGuy]

It was eating in QT. I hope mine does the same, thanks.

 

[PilotMaximus]

Yeah my fire fish did hiding thing shoot for almost a year before he realize no one was out to get him. He would just come out to eat and a few rare appearances here and there. Only fish in the tank was a clown and the fire fish. And the clown left the fire fish alone after the first week. They've been together for over 2 years now and the fire fish only hides during water changes. It'll just take some time and each at it's own pace I imagine

 

[monkeysee1]

Just be patient, ZenGuitar!
Keep offering food, two to three times a day, and keep the room your aquarium is in as quiet as possible and he'll come out to munch! And don't add any new fish until he's comfy!
He could be sneaking little morsels of food when you're not looking or noticing!

 

[jmf305]

I wouldn't panic they are very shy fish. I had one that took a week to come out.

 

[surfingdude]

wierd...my 2 firefish have always been out in the open except sleep time...even with my one bully chromis going after him the first day. plenty of rock and cave work too...now everyone seems quite content with each other and play nice.