firefish in hiding

[M88A2]

i had a firefish for about 6 months or so now and everything was great. eats strong and alway out in the open. 3 days ago i didnt see it come out at all. after 2 days i thought it had died but found it in its normal sleeping spot. i use a turkey baster to try and push it out but it swam back. earlier today i saw him in the open again so i fed the tank and he ate well. 2hrs later, after i got back from class, he is back in hiding again. any ideas whats going on?

 

[snorvich]

Tank mates??

 

[M88A2]

there are 2 occy. clowns, a neon dotty, 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 fire shrimp. i havent seen anyone really interact with goby at all. the clowns normaly pass by the firefish and the dotty back is moving in and out of the rocks

 

[snorvich]

Most likely the firefish would be intimidated by the dottyback. But if it is a smallish tank and the clownfish are sexually mature, that also could be problematical.

 

[M88A2]

dang, the female clown has been getting more agressive...havent seen it towards my firefish but i guess that could be it.

 

[sfexplicit]

I've owned two firefish. And both have had very timid personalities. Was hard to get them to eat at first too.

 

[DxSOR25]

yeah the clowns and the dotty can definately be the bullies.. my clowns chased my firefish til he gave up and hid and ended up dying

 

[M88A2]

aww. they were doing so good for like 6 months or so

 

[snorvich]

aww. they were doing so good for like 6 months or so

Which is why I do not advocate clownfish, especially in smaller tanks. It severely limits your options going forward. Unfortunately, once intimidated, firefish rarely survive.

 

[Grebex11]

I think they might do better in groups as well.

 

[snorvich]

I think they might do better in groups as well.

No, they will NOT do well in groups. Unless you have a very large tank, you can have one or a bonded pair.

 

[M88A2]

my firefish seems to be comming out every 3 days give or take a day. i not that this opportunity to feed him when i see him out. i still havent seen the clowns mess with anyone except the female with the male and the female with the cleaner shrimps. they have been doing this "jiggly dance" (for lack of a better description) a lot more. i hope the little firefish makes it to feb when my 75g should be up and running.

 

[snorvich]

The jiggly dance is bonding.

 

[jmski333]

would you also describe this "jiggy dance" as a quiver?

 

[agreeive?fish]

i hope the little firefish makes it to feb when my 75g should be up and running.

thats a long time to hope for survival.. personaly i would run to the store and buy a 10g setup and get the firefish in a home where he will feel comfy if you want to keep him alive

 

[pinnatus]

i had a firefish for about 6 months or so now and everything was great. eats strong and alway out in the open. 3 days ago i didnt see it come out at all. after 2 days i thought it had died but found it in its normal sleeping spot. i use a turkey baster to try and push it out but it swam back. earlier today i saw him in the open again so i fed the tank and he ate well. 2hrs later, after i got back from class, he is back in hiding again. any ideas whats going on?

Honestly, that has always been my experience with firefish. They do well for a while, then you see them less and less, then one day you realize you haven't seen it for a while, and they are gone.

 

[M88A2]

would you also describe this "jiggy dance" as a quiver?

yea thats a way better word to describe it. like one would do it. then the other. then together. then they're swim around each other for a sec. the dance some more. once in a while the female would make a charging motion towards the male and he would dance. then she would dance.

 

[M88A2]

ya i guess you guys are right about the firefish. i'm gonna try to find him a new home. dang i really liked the little guy too. thanks for the help guys

 

[Luiz Rocha]

I've had one for about 6 months now too. Strangely, something very similar happened to mine. At first (maybe first two months) it was always out in the open, but now it hides most of the time. He still comes out to eat normally with the others and doesn't seem intimidated, but spends most of the time in hiding...