Helfrichi firefish broke up

[Maxxingout]

So I got this pair of firefish that have been a pair for a long time. They were a pair in someone else tank then I bought them. They've been fine and sleeping together for over the month I've had them.

Fast forward to today and noticed that 1 was chasing the other now. Any time the smaller one comes out of its new hiding spot the larger one chases it. Any reason as to why this might have happened?

 

[Deinonych]

Unfortunately this is fairly typical for firefish. They'll get along fine for months, then will whittle themselves down to one. I would try to remove one of them ASAP and rehome.

 

[Maxxingout]

Not what I wanted to hear, snap

 

[snorvich]

Not what I wanted to hear, snap

But that is the way it is. "pairs" of firefish can be stable for about six months and then one will intimidate the other until it starves to death.

 

[Maxxingout]

So how in the world am I suppose to catch the little one? These guys swim WAY to fast. taking all the live rock out isn't a option either.

 

[DopeCantWin]

So how in the world am I suppose to catch the little one? These guys swim WAY to fast. taking all the live rock out isn't a option either.

Fish trap. I prefer store bought ones, but people here have made them out of bottles.

 

[Deinonych]

Fish trap. I prefer store bought ones, but people here have made them out of bottles.

+1

AquaMedic makes one that works really well. Put in the tank, stop feeding for a day or two, then start feeding in the trap.

 

[snorvich]

With the fish traps, you will be able to catch the dominant one, the intimidated one may no longer come out to feed. However, since firefish are planktivores, it will not be easy at all.

 

[arashsheikhpoor]

can you remove any of the rock? maybe if you lower the water level a bit and try moving some of the rocks out, it may be easier?

 

[WayneL333]

I never had long term success with firefish. I love the deep water one la dd a lot, especially since it was collected near the Claire wrasses, but am scared to buy it because of that. How long have you guys kept them?

 

[snorvich]

can you remove any of the rock? maybe if you lower the water level a bit and try moving some of the rocks out, it may be easier?

When they feel threatened, a firefish will retire to its "bolt hole". As such, I would guess you would need to take all rock out and lower the water level. But perhaps you will get lucky! :fish2:

 

[DopeCantWin]

With the fish traps, you will be able to catch the dominant one, the intimidated one may no longer come out to feed. However, since firefish are planktivores, it will not be easy at all.

You don't think once the intimidator is out, the other one will go back to normal.

 

[snorvich]

You don't think once the intimidator is out, the other one will go back to normal.

Sometimes. If the intimidation is not ingrained, perhaps. Many times, not.

 

[syrinx]

large diameter siphon hose can work like a slurp gun.

 

[Deinonych]

I never had long term success with firefish. I love the deep water one la dd a lot, especially since it was collected near the Claire wrasses, but am scared to buy it because of that. How long have you guys kept them?

I've had mine for almost 2 years, but it's just the "regular" firefish (N. magnifica).

 

[Maxxingout]

Well guys you will never believe it but I managed to catch the smaller guy/gal. Funny that you mentioned a siphon hose syrinx cause I actually tried that, lol. It had a new spot to hid that allowed me to see him. It's other hole was way under a rock. I was not able to catch him using that method.

1st i turned everything off so I had no flow. I then ended up using 2 nets, 1 really large net and 1 medium. I closed off 1 spot leaving the large net in place. The fish learned quickly not to go that way so I worked on only half the tank. I also have a long acrylic rod i used to sway him 1 way or the other. on the 2nd day of trying and some dumb luck I got him to swim into the net which I promptly lifted up as to keep him in it. I had caught him multi times before but was to slow in lifting the net and he swam out.

I felt really bad after the 1st day. Not only the stress I caused the firefish and my other fish but I actually thought that I was going to have to let him die. My 4 year old told to me to stay calm and "use my powers", lol. I will be taking him back to the fish store today for store credit towards my lineatus fairy wrasse he's got on hold for me. I'm really bummed cause the pair looked beautiful together in the tank. I did not know that these guys split after a while, live and learn I guess.

 

[snorvich]

Congrats! Definitely not easy!!!!

 

[Deinonych]

Congrats! Definitely not easy!!!!

+1

Nice work getting the little guy out.

Do you have other wrasses in the tank currently? If so, be sure to use an acclimation box with the C. lineatus so you don't run into a similar problem with aggression.

 

[SoloChromis]

So how in the world am I suppose to catch the little one? These guys swim WAY to fast. taking all the live rock out isn't a option either.

Submerge a plastic fish bowl ($5 roughly) into the tank, on it's side (you may need to place a piece of rock in it to keep it from rolling at all. Inject food into the bowl every time you feed and eventually every fish will begin entering the bowl to feed (may take a week at the longest IME) and whenever the firefish swims in either quickly block the exit with a net or yank the bowl to the surface as fast as you can. It's worked 100% of the time for me, catching anything from damsels to wrasses (both very nimble and clever fish). Don't blow you money on the store bought ones, which will usually run you $50+ and are normally much bulkier. Good luck :beer:

 

[Maxxingout]

Do you have other wrasses in the tank currently? If so, be sure to use an acclimation box with the C. lineatus so you don't run into a similar problem with aggression.

Yes I do, a melanurus and a blue star leopard wrasse. Unfortunately the fairy wrasse did not make it It was a wrasse given to him from a local reefer. I guess I'll do some more research on the next fish I'll be getting.