Firefish newb here....Questions

[EllisJuan]

I picked these guys up today:

They were out being good swimmers front and center for the first hour or so. Then I went to wipe down the glass and they freaked out. Started darting like crazy. One even hit the top of the water....he did not jump, or atleast not that I can find anywhere around the tank. Now both have dissapeard and I can not find them anywhere...lol.

Have they just gone into extreme hiding? Do they do that when spooked? How long do they normal stay hidden?

 

[aquaph8]

Their real big chickens. Give em time and they'll get a little braver. Make sure you have a pretty tight top on that tank cause they are very prone to jumping. I had one get through holes smaller than 1/4".

 

[M88A2]

if you do not have a large tank, chances are that 1 will kill the other. you may luck out and they may get along together, but usually one kills the other. i suggest researching future livestock as aggressive take mates may force them into hiding to the point where they starve. i speak from exp. otherwise, great looking guys and wish u the best or luck.

 

[EllisJuan]

if you do not have a large tank, chances are that 1 will kill the other. you may luck out and they may get along together, but usually one kills the other. i suggest researching future livestock as aggressive take mates may force them into hiding to the point where they starve. i speak from exp. otherwise, great looking guys and wish u the best or luck.

They are in a 65g...do you think that would be big enough? I know they do not like wrass and do not plan on having one in my tank. I do know I want a dwarf flame angel and a shrimp goby. Any other fish you would warn against?

 

[EllisJuan]

Their real big chickens. Give em time and they'll get a little braver. Make sure you have a pretty tight top on that tank cause they are very prone to jumping. I had one get through holes smaller than 1/4".

I am very concerned about them jumping, I actually do not have a lid on my tank :-/ . I have HQIs and heat would be a problem with glass and hate the look of egg crate. I know quite a few people who have kept them with open tanks as long as they were with non-harassing tank mates.

I am hoping I have the same luck.

 

[aquaph8]

Bird netting in window screen frame works really great too. This is the netting mine made it through just to show how small a space they can make it through.
I doubled it up. Bulk reef supply has some stuff thats a little nicer too. Hope this helps.

 

[EllisJuan]

I am pretty sure these guys are never coming out again...lol. I can not see them anywhere...didn't even come out for food.

 

[snorvich]

Well, egg crate will not work. As mentioned, 1/4 inch netting is required. Give them time, they will come out. Give them enough time and they will jump. And further down the road, you will have only one unless they are a true pair.

 

[EllisJuan]

I found their burrow under a rock. They are both in there and took turns coming out for a few minutes to take a peak around. Unfortunately they did not come out when I fed the tank.

When should I start being concerned if they keep missing feedings?

 

[ssavader]

Without a lid, they are as good as gone. You must get a tight-mesh lid because these are skittish fish that will jump at the site of....., well, nothing! With my pair, the smaller female usually stays in the burrow with her head out only. The male hovers around outside the burrow and will dive in at a moments notice. By the way, the burrow they occupy is shared with a pistol shrimp!

You can make a very clean looking cover by using screen door framing and screening. You cut the frame with a hack-saw blade to fit your tank dimensions, put the frame together with frame brackets, and insert the screening into the frame with a tool- all can be gotten at Lowe's for about $25- how much were those fish?

 

[Dratini]

Mine stayed hidden until I got two chromis to swim about in the water column, since then he's been out front and center. I got rid of the chromis and moved the tank and he still stays out front. He's the center piece of my little tank.

 

[M88A2]

+1 on the super skittishness of the fish and on the bird netting. sometimes anything as little as walking by or something from another room making a vibration can cause them to jump/hide. i don think ur planed tank mates would be a problem, however do consider that it is not 100% sure. Many people say that a pair of clowns should do find with a firefish but i have reason to believe that my overly aggresive female cause my firefish to hide till starvation. on a more possitive note, your tank is much large than mine was and the 2 fish u mentioned either spend much of their time in the bottom or are usually only aggresive towards their own kind (unless in mated pairs)

 

[EllisJuan]

They decided to come out! Late in the light cycle they came out and swam in the water column until the lights turned off. They really are beautiful fish. I calmly fed the water column to see if they would eat and they took frozen mysis great!

When I was at the store earlier I saw this beautiful Coral Beauty in the back ground and could not resist. The CB is eating great too.

 

[Swolek]

Mine hid for several days but now he stays out all day. You definitely want some sort of cover, I've had them jump out of the bucket during acclimation! They take every opportunity to "escape".