Firefish help

[bobbyblank]

I have had a hard time keeping firefish. I have tried 2 regular and one purple firefish. My first shot at firefish was a flop, with the fish dieing about 1 week after purchase. 2nd shot was about 1 1/2 months later with another firefish. Same outcome. About 1 week and then gone. Then got a purple firefish which had been in my tank for about 5 months with no problems, then i come home from work today and find him lying dead in a bed of button polyps. All my tank params are normal and the tank has been very stable. Other fish have been doing well. Anyone else had problems with them? None have been jumpers.

 

[Matt_Wandell]

What other fish do you have in the tank?

 

[650-IS350]

THey get spooked easily, not recommended with boistorous fish .. ie' like anthias, big groups of damsels etc....

 

[C4SxM5]

same thing here, but mine continue to jump along with all the gobies (4 firefish and 4 gobies so far). tried the egg crate cover but they got through the hole. Recently put the glass back up and the 2 gobies pretty much disappeared some where in the tank.

I still have one damsel left in the tank that I've been trying to get out, so hopefully thats the issue.

 

[MrMikeB]

I have had my 'cholo' fish (as my GF calls the purple firefish with the unmistakable mustache) for abut 4 months. I bought them as a pair and they pretty much stick together and live under a rock. They usually only come out when there is food or I happen to catch a rare occasion of an afternoon stroll along the sandbed. I have lost a couple of these fish in the past - and always had a suspicion that they died due to lack of food. I think they need frequent small feedings throughout the day, which can be hard when you are working. How often did you feed yours? What kind of food?

Also if during feeding times they are too scared to eat when the 6" sailfin and maroon clown is gobbling everything up around them - this too might keep them from getting enough food.

 

[bladeruner143]

Ive had firefish for quite some time without any problems. They do become spooked easily but I don't see why they would suddenly die out of no where. Do they have a spot to run and hide to? If not, maybe the stress of not being able to hide is what killed them (pure speculation here)? Good luck finding whats killing them

 

[Matt_Wandell]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11418337#post11418337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by C4SxM5
same thing here, but mine continue to jump along with all the gobies (4 firefish and 4 gobies so far). tried the egg crate cover but they got through the hole. Recently put the glass back up and the 2 gobies pretty much disappeared some where in the tank.

I still have one damsel left in the tank that I've been trying to get out, so hopefully thats the issue.

Part of the issue may be that you're keeping 4 firefish together. They are very peaceful but quarrel amongst each other when they become sexually mature, and will eventually kill one another. Adults should be kept singly or in mated pairs. Mated pairs cannot always be formed by simply sticking 2 fish together (a la clownfish) either.

 

[bobbyblank]

Ok, sorry guys, i been out of town for a while for work. Only other fish in the tank are a female perc, and diamond goby. Purple firefish got along fine with other tankmates for 4 months or so. Had her own hideing hole, but was not a shy fish for the most part. She was fed daily with the other fish at night around 8pm, two hours before lights out. Fed a mix of baby mysis, cyclops, and whatever pods she could catch. She was a food hog and ate as much as my clown, thats why i find it odd she just died, she ate great. Thanks for all the suggestions. I might give firefish another try, but probably not very soon. It took me a while to find a nice purple firefish that was in good shape.