Firefish Is Mia

[topher oner]

I purchased my firefish for my 29g biocube over the weekend. He was doing fine although I did notice even after rearanging things inside the tank and keeping the room pretty dark while i acclimated and added him, that my black saddleback was giving him a not so great welcome to the tank.

I turned off the lights again and this seemed to help. His breathing became normal and he started swimming and exploring the rest of the tank.

That was saturday... its now wednesday and I haven't seen him since Monday morning.

I checked all the rear compartments in the back and pulled everything out of them. I also have looked throughout my rockwork and couldn't find him. Not too worried about the jumping factor cause its a biocube.

Should I be worried? Where could he have gone??

Any help is appreciated .

 

[snorvich]

Firefish are easily intimidated and either jump to a new breakwater (carpet surfing) or hide until they starve to death. Clownfish can be very territorial.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Check the carpet and the back chambers

 

[topher oner]

thanks folks but no luck... no carpet surfing since its a biocube - covers are on... back chambers were emptied... i'm concerned he's in hiding and may starve to death...

planning to take out the two saddlebacks and trade them in.

do true percs act the same way??

 

[snorvich]

Any adult pair of clown fish in a small tank will be highly territorial, especially if they have reached the point of mating.

 

[basser1]

I know you said you already did this, but check those back chambers again. My blue spot jawfish jumped in the back chamber of my 29 gallon biocube, and I found him in the middle chamber, "Under The Floor" (or grate), somehow he managed to get under there. And I have a protein skimmer in the middle chamber! Turn off all powerheads and use a flashlight to see better. I finally had to remove the grate to get to him.

Good Luck!

 

[adtravels]

welcome to the world of firefish I have tried several over the years and they have all perished fairly quickly, they all ate but seem to need a really peaceful environment, perhaps even a species tank to allow them to feel comfortable, Pulesif you dont get a true pair they tend to kill each other, they act like a pair when stressed but as soon as they settle in to a tank they start to fight and one comes off worse.
They also suffer badly from flukes ime

 

[topher oner]

i have since removed the two black saddlebacks, looked throughout my rockwork and still no luck!!!

so confused...

i've now picked up a purple firefish, i haven't learned my lesson, and he went into hiding immidiately. good thing is that i can see him hiding under a rock and was coming out to eat. but he would go back into hiding right after.

i also have two new true perc juvies as well.

thinking of adding 1 - 2 more fish. any ideas? was thinking of adding one more purple firefish but if they'regoing to end up fighting, nm.

 

[ssavader]

29 Biocube stocking.

29 Biocube stocking.

First of all, slow down and take a breather! As Snorvich said, clowns are amazingy territorial- they are semi-civilized damsels. My suggestion would have been to replace the Firefish and give him a good 2-4 weeks to get comfortable. Then add another docile fish if you wish, like a Cardinal or a small Basselet. Save the space for the clown pair last. You want to always start with the least agressive fish and move towards the more aggressive fish, so the more docile ones can establish territory. 5 small wish is the maximum you will get away with, though some on RC will most likely tell you no more than 3-4.

 

[Juggler]

they hide alot

 

[topher oner]

Don't know how but after not seeing my firefish for a few weeks now, the little bugger reappeared from out of nowhere!!!

:eek1: :eek1: :eek1: :eek1: :eek1:

At first I thought it was one of my Purple Firefish but when I saw the Red, I mouth dropped and I took a closer look. Somehow even after reaquascaping my tank and not finding him then, it's survived all this time. I guess it finally decided to comeout after seeing the other two Purple Firefish and not seeing the Black Saddleback Clowns anylonger.

I'm quite happy to see it alive and I get to see the three firefish all getting along and having their little group meetings every evening. I'm just wondering how it's survived about three weeks without it ever coming out even to grab some lunch???

 

[topher oner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13341569#post13341569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Juggler
they hide alot

Gee you think?!?!

Three weeks worth of hide, hide, and hide... then seek!

 

[snorvich]

Well that is good news and bad news. You are unlikely to keep three firefish alive in that tank. They do not like each other. Percula clown fish will be equally aggressive once mature. You might consider slowing down.

 

[topher oner]

Believe me I have... the resurrection of my firefish through me for a loop. I was planning on stopping with the two percs and the two firefish for the mean time and just adding maybe a few more coral and a zoa to add more color to the tank.

So far they seem to be fine just hanging out but i'm wondering if sooner than later that one will try to be the dominant of the bunch.

 

[snorvich]

Well your three firefish will become one, it is simply a question of how long. When your perculas mature, they will likely be the only fish in that tank due to their aggressiveness.