Keeping Firefish together

[Str8linespeed]

Hello everyone. Two part question I have a Purple Firefish in my tank, but I would like to get some Red Firefish also. Our LFS recommended against it, but I came here for solid advice. Is it possible to keep Purple and Red Firefish together?

Also if we can do the above, they told me that I should get a minimum of 5 Red's. I was thinking 3, but I would like to know for sure.

 

[snorvich]

Moe than one is not likely to work long term (four months)

 

[Moort82]

As they mature they bond and you would likely end with just a pair or even one, as they don't appreciate congeners. It might work with a massive tank but in the confines of the average aquarium, unless you are very lucky, it won't.

 

[mike61289]

The purple firefish will likely stress out the red firefish, causing them to jump out or just die on their own. I kept a pair of helfrichi firefish with a shoal of 4 red firefish and the red firefish didn't stand a chance.

 

[johnike]

Moe than one is not likely to work long term (four months)

End of story, period.
Steve types wisely.

 

[GimpyFin]

I agree with the others. I have a purple and a helfrichi that are practically a bonded pair, but I won't add any more than that.

 

[Str8linespeed]

Ok, thank you for the advice. I'll just stick with the one Purple in my tank and look at other options for fish.