Firefish question

[ghost78]

So over the past 4 years I have bought a dozen or so fire fish and not a singel one has survived! Why? Everything else in the tank thrives, corals, and other tank mates but they all disappear quickly. I don't get it. I have never found one of them out side the tank either (no jumpers). Most recently 4 have disapeated with in a week of introducing them.

Current tank mates:
Coral beauty
Mystery wrasse
Hippo tang
Lavender tang
Khol tang
Pipe fish

 

[tankfly]

Firefish are very timid at first. With those fish in the tank first IMO you will not be able to successfully introduce a firefish. Maybe if the firefish was in the tank first. But the wrasse or coral beauty would be very likely to harass it to death.

 

[snorvich]

So over the past 4 years I have bought a dozen or so fire fish and not a singel one has survived! Why? Everything else in the tank thrives, corals, and other tank mates but they all disappear quickly. I don't get it. I have never found one of them out side the tank either (no jumpers). Most recently 4 have disapeated with in a week of introducing them.

Current tank mates:
Coral beauty
Mystery wrasse Most likely culprit
Hippo tang
Lavender tang
Khol tang
Pipe fish

 

[WienerDog]

Mine just bit it after a day in the tank. Seems as if they're just a weaker species. Just my opinion.

 

[subisti]

Are mystery wrasse that aggressive?

 

[snorvich]

Are mystery wrasse that aggressive?

they can be, but the real issue is the firefish are that easily intimidated. Once intimidated, they hide, don't eat and die. They are indeed prolific jumpers as well.

 

[ghost78]

yeah the mystery wrasses is a model citizen, the coral beauty is def suspect, in fact it is coming out today(i hope ive been trying to catch it for almost a month! but getting a trap today). But i have had these problems since day one. i am guessing that snorvich is along the right lines, some thing is intimidating them, they hide, don't eat and die b/c i looked all over for carpet divers last night and this am and none were to be found.

 

[snorvich]

yeah the mystery wrasses is a model citizen, the coral beauty is def suspect, in fact it is coming out today(i hope ive been trying to catch it for almost a month! but getting a trap today). But i have had these problems since day one. i am guessing that snorvich is along the right lines, some thing is intimidating them, they hide, don't eat and die b/c i looked all over for carpet divers last night and this am and none were to be found.

Yes, coral beauties can also be a pain, but normally towards members of the same ecological niche, i.e. grazers.

 

[ghost78]

yeah, its not really aggressive more just aggravating to the other fish. like when the 4 fire fish were schooling it would swim right through the school just to break it up but never really attacked the fish directly.

 

[bryan007]

Four firefish in the same tank? These fish will not get along with each other unless in a very large tank. Usually only one will survive killing off the others.

 

[snorvich]

yeah, its not really aggressive more just aggravating to the other fish. like when the 4 fire fish were schooling it would swim right through the school just to break it up but never really attacked the fish directly.

Firefish do not school (or shoal) and at best one will be left unless you have a bonded pair.