Firefish + Purple Firefish = ???

[ReeferMO85]

Can a Firefish co-exist with a Purple Firefish? I know in the wild both species are found in groups, and even in the aquarium setting they can be kept in pairs or small groups of their own kind. But can one of each variant live together? If introduced at the same time? Even if they are the last fish introduced, so there is less of a territory war?

 

[Ironsheikh]

why not? just make sure theres enough room and hiding places I had 2 firefish in a 20g and one eventually killed the other off --mustve been 2 males cuz every time his unicorn fin got too long the other would bite it off.
At least they arent too expensive ones $12 the other is $25

 

[clord]

One will kill the other after a while

 

[ReeferMO85]

Even the same species will kill eachother?

 

[Blazer88]

I've had a pair of firefish for about six months now. They never are apart and always out in the open. So I guess they won't kill each other.

 

[Sk8r]

I have a red and a purple. The red hangs high in the water and the purple is lower, but the purple bosses and gets center front and first dibs on the food---the red doesn't dare go there unless the purple is occupied. There are no ripped fins. Everyone knows their territory. But if you hope they'll pal together, alas, no, not likely.

 

[SaraB]

I have 2 red and one purple. The purple was added months after the reds and there was never an issue between all of them. The purple was also larger than the reds.

 

[Wolverine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7850476#post7850476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMO85
Even the same species will kill eachother?

Unless you have a male-female pair, yes, they will usually kill each other. Groups kept in aquaria, unless in very large tanks, tend to weed themselves down to one.

Dave

 

[PRESTO2345]

I have had 2 red and one purple in a 24Gal with no problems. Just have to be introduced at the same time or move your rocks around after setting them loose.

Only thing is you need to have plenty of hiding places for them. My rock has large holes, caves, and overhangs to hide in. Good luck!!!

 

[mmotown]

In my tank I have 4 red and 4 purples and they stay together with their own species but they all eat together. I have never seen them fight nor chase each other and I have had them for 8mos or more

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7897055#post7897055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mmotown
In my tank I have 4 red and 4 purples and they stay together with their own species but they all eat together. I have never seen them fight nor chase each other and I have had them for 8mos or more

Sounds nice and thanks for posting how long you've had them. I'm not saying it will happen in your case - especially because I haven't heard of anyone keeping the particular set up you have... but just as a warning to others - what I've read is sometime after the first year (perhaps at a certain level of sexual maturity) typically one starts killing off the others

mmotown - if your combination remains sucessful, i hope you will post again later - there are lots of us who would love to have 4 of each of these gorgeous fish but wouldn't try it for fear of failure

 

[PRESTO2345]

mmotown, you have any pictures you can post?

 

[just dave]

I've kept a Firefish with a Purple Firefish and a pair of Helfrich's Firefish and they got along OK. The Purple ended up being the most dominate probably because of its size .

 

[mmotown]

I am in CA and my wife watches the tank in leu of my absence. I would say try it. I have plenty of live rock and they hide in pretty much the same area. In my tank currently I have a blonde naso, yellow tang, 4 of each red/purple fire fish, a pair of onyx clowns, a six line wrasse, and one ocellaris clown. Everyone gets along. One thing about the ff is they drift in the current produced by my tunzes. If you go to live aquaria they say the are peaceful and I must agree they are. I would say that if they do fight in anyone's tank it would probably be because the tank is too small. I will post pics for you this weekend and I will also keep everyone updated.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7898315#post7898315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by just dave
I've kept a Firefish with a Purple Firefish and a pair of Helfrich's Firefish and they got along OK. The Purple ended up being the most dominate probably because of its size .

The purples also are said to be more aggressive than the other 2

 

[mmotown]

I would agree with that comment. In my tank the purple ff seem to have a pecking order but not the reds.

 

[ruiny]

I have 2 reds and 1 purple for about 6 months and have not seen anything to make me think there will be a problem.
They were the first 3 fish into the system and went in all togther.
I guess time will tell if it remains this way.