firefish behavior

[SpyderVenom000]

Finally got my first fish and its in my QT tank right now. Hasn't quite been a week but my firefish hangs out on the bottom of my tank. I have a piece of y pipe PVC in there for it and it likes to stay right between the two arms. I dont see it swimming around lot. I have seen it eat some but not every time I feed it (twice daily). Not sure if this is normal behavior or stress/illness. Tank parameters listed below

Temp: 78*F
Salinity: 1.026
Amm: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 5-10 ppm
PH: 8.4
Alk:1.7-2.8 meq/l

Thanks

 

[RayL]

A firefish will normally stay around a hole that it's found incase it has to dart to safety. This is normal behaviour. They don't swim too much, more just hover.

 

[Meanmike]

What kind of firefish? Mine are all over the place.

Crappy pic

 

[Josh40996]

I'd say that behaviour is normal as my Firefish also does not seem to like straying too far from his hole.

 

[SpyderVenom000]

its just a regular red firefish. that's good to hear... i would like to see it hover around more than it does though...

 

[Goss]

Mine hover about a foot off the sand at the front of my tank all day.

 

[Josh40996]

When I first got mine in, he would barely come out and when he did he would just quickly dart in and out. Over the course of a month or so, he would come out into view for longer periods of time each day. He now hovers above the rock work and corals but as already said he won't be caught too far away from his hidey hole.

I think once your guy settles in and feels safe in his home, you'll see him more and being more active each day.

 

[GroktheCube]

Do you have the back, one of the sides, and the bottom of the tank painted? That makes fish in QT feel much more secure and thus act more outgoing in my experience.

 

[SpyderVenom000]

Do you have the back, one of the sides, and the bottom of the tank painted?

no but i will.

 

[SpyderVenom000]

he's actually been in the pvc alot more today, but he darts back to his spot once he sees me. i have to use binoculars to watch him from the couch...

 

[RayL]

Once he is eating properly, I would suggest that you walk in front of the tank regularly, this should help with getting him accustomed to you before you put him in the DT tank. It might take a week or two but he should eventually stop hiding when you come to see him. Before you start doing this, make sure he is eating nicely

 

[Blue Ring Sting]

Yeah Firefish can sometimes be very jumpy and like to be able to dart into caves and crevices to feel secure. When I had a few in my holding tanks, I would see them from a distance swimming around but when I got to the tank they gone. Just be careful not to startle them as they have the tendency to jump.

 

[SpyderVenom000]

there's a cover on the QT tank...

 

[guidedbyechoes]

I liked my purple fire fish but it didnt do a whole lot of exploring.

 

[Meanmike]

I wonder if having only one makes a difference in their behavior. I have ten regular and eight purple and they never hide heck most don't even hide when I've got my hands in the tank.