Keeping purple & standard firefish in the same tank?

[Candi]

I recently lost my purple firefish and would like to replace him, however I also love the standard color variation and would really love to have one of each, in a 24g aquapod. Any chance of this working out if they were purchased at the same time, acclimated/qt'd together and then released into the tank at the same time?

thanks!

 

[michael_cb_125]

I dont think it would be any problem at all. Especially if they are added at the same time. So I would go for it.
~Michael

 

[snorvich]

michael_cb_125, have you actually DONE this?

 

[michael_cb_125]

I have kept a purple firefish and a firefish together in a 24 gallon aquapod with no problems.
Why do you feel as though you have to question me?
~Michael

 

[small alien]

He's probably questioning you because your reply sounds like you're shooting from the hip. If you've kept the two fish together successfully, why not say so?

 

[scrapz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13378892#post13378892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
michael_cb_125, have you actually DONE this?

he probaly has, but how long is the question.

my firefish loved each other for the first 2 months, then it was on.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Yeah I guess my reply did sound as such. Sorry for getting defensive. But Yes, I have kept the two together and they did perfectly fine. They were constantly together.
~Michael

 

[michael_cb_125]

I kept them together for about 5 months before one jumped out. Then I decided to give the other to the LFS, as I found something else I wanted.
~Michael

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I'd like to try this in my 120g, or how about getting two purples or regulars to pair up?

 

[snorvich]

It almost certainly will not work. The reason I questioned is that firefish, unless mated, tolerate each other for a while (sometimes as long as a year) and all of a sudden develop a distaste for the other. Normally one jumps or becomes intimidated and starves. In a LFS, you will see groups of them in a bare tank but these have not established territories and temporarily tolerate others.

 

[Big E]

It almost certainly will not work. The reason I questioned is that firefish, unless mated, tolerate each other for a while (sometimes as long as a year) and all of a sudden develop a distaste for the other. Normally one jumps or becomes intimidated and starves. In a LFS, you will see groups of them in a bare tank but these have not established territories and temporarily tolerate others.

I'm not questioning these comments other than them being generalizations. I'm not criticizing, but just looking for clarification.

As you mentioned a "mated" pair will get along fine, but mated? My Maroon clowns have never mated & have been a pair for 5 years.

Why can't you put 6-10 in a large tank. Maybe two pair will stake out territories & you would have to take out the rest........Or maybe it's just one pair, but it seems silly to me that no two will exist together when they readily pair in the wild.

I would venture to say that after a year one may be ready to mate or is mature & the other isn't & that may be why the problem exists, but this doesn't mean it always ends this way.

Imo, if one has the facilities to seperate fish & the patience, most if not all fish can be kept in pairs, if that's their natural way.