firefish Goby

[JPLoria116]

I bought 3 firefish gobies about two weeks ago... at first all of them seemed to be schooled up and getting along... a few days ago i noticed that one of them was missing... I found him all the way on the other side of the tank by himself... At a closer look i noticed that it looked like his jaw/bottom lip was ripped... not sure if one of the other firefish did this to him cause i never saw them fight, or if it's some kind of disease? he's able to eat and seems normal minus the hanging jaw... will it heal in time?

my tank consists of
1 False percula clown
1 purple pseudochromis
3 firefish gobies

 

[Peter Eichler]

I'd suspect it was the other firefish. Firefish should only be kept as singles or in known pairs as once they get settled in they can be really nasty towards conspecifics. The purple pseudochromis could be a prime suspect as well, but the most aggreesion should has been when you added them and not 2 weeks after the fact.

 

[JPLoria116]

well the whole reason i bought three was because i was under the impression that they were a schooling fish, but now the one is damaged and hanging out by himself... I can only hope that maybe he will heal and not end up dying... :/ i mean he is eating but his mouth is all banged up

 

[steelersfan]

i'd suspect it was the other firefish. Firefish should only be kept as singles or in known pairs as once they get settled in they can be really nasty towards conspecifics.

+1

 

[Peter Eichler]

well the whole reason i bought three was because i was under the impression that they were a schooling fish, but now the one is damaged and hanging out by himself... I can only hope that maybe he will heal and not end up dying... :/ i mean he is eating but his mouth is all banged up

They are not a schooling fish and even if they were 3 of them in an aquarium wouldn't be a school nor would it exclude them from aggression among conspecifics.