multiple firefish

[lorawalters13]

My lfs has a few exceptionally colored purple firefish. I picked one up for a 24"/60 gallon cube and I was wondering if the tank was large enough to house one more without aggression between them.

TIA for your help!:wave:

 

[IFbettas]

No. Unless you happen to get one of the opposite sex that is compatible with the existing one you will end up with a dead fish. If you want two you need to buy them as a mated pair, or have a huge tank.

 

[TampaReefer79]

I had 2 firefish and 2 purple firefish in a 180 with no issues. They weren't mated pairs but hung out together. IE: the 2 purples together and the 2 'regular' firefish together.

 

[MikeandNicole]

I have a pair of helfrichis and I don't know if they are mated but they hang out together and even sleep next to one another. I have them in a much smaller tank too.

 

[philter4]

If they are hanging out together they are "mated" pairs. firefish do not like each other, and if they are not pairs you will end up with only one. The term "mated pairs" is sort of strange for saltwater aquarists, most saltwater fish do not breed in our tanks, but when using the term it applies to the firefish, the prs you have are a male and female, and they are bonded, building and maintaing a territory including a burrow for protection and sleep.

 

[TampaReefer79]

If that's the case, then I lucked out cus mine weren't sold as 'mated'. Matter of fact they came from seperate tanks at the lfs. So maybe it's not hard for them to 'pair up' in our tanks huh? What about a REALLY big tank? How many do you think can live with a big teritory?

 

[sowellj]

I have heard mixed opinions on this one. My experience ... I have 3 firefish and 1 purple firefish in 180 w/no issues. My guess is that this is one of those luck of draw type things analogous to ... will my flame angel nip at corals.

 

[IFbettas]

If that's the case, then I lucked out cus mine weren't sold as 'mated'. Matter of fact they came from seperate tanks at the lfs. So maybe it's not hard for them to 'pair up' in our tanks huh? What about a REALLY big tank? How many do you think can live with a big teritory?

When you buy 2, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a compatible pair or two that hate each other. Apparently you got lucky, but half of people who try this end up with beaten up/dead fish.

It depends on what you consider REALLY big. I don't think that a 180 is really big or even my new 375 isn't really big. In my 180 I put two firefish in together and within a month I was down to one, so apparently 180 gallons isn't enough for two incompatible specimens.

 

[lorawalters13]

Thanks for all the responses. I have always heard only one firefish per tank, but have seen several displays that housed multiples. I'm going to have to think on getting another. Are there any physical characteristics to determine male vs. female?

 

[dun2run]

I have 3 and they have no problems with one another. They all sleep together under the same rock at night.

 

[gmigmi]

I transfered a decora from my old tank to my current 240 and then three months later added 2 more, in the first week they spread to different spots in the tank but then joined together and now hang out generally in the same area in the center of the tank.
aprox. a month later i added 4 regular firefish and they did split up to two pairs that spread to the 2 opposite ens of the tank, but while the pair on the right side is constantly out swimming in the open the pair on the left mostly stay in their large cave and come out only from time to time when i feed the tank.

 

[caat408]

I transfered a decora from my old tank to my current 240 and then three months later added 2 more, in the first week they spread to different spots in the tank but then joined together and now hang out generally in the same area in the center of the tank.
aprox. a month later i added 4 regular firefish and they did split up to two pairs that spread to the 2 opposite ens of the tank, but while the pair on the right side is constantly out swimming in the open the pair on the left mostly stay in their large cave and come out only from time to time when i feed the tank.

and now?
How many do you have?
I asked this cause I have the oportunity to add 10 or 15 in my 300 tank
some experiences in many firefish together-

 

[Matt_Wandell]

Juveniles can get along for a while. Adults, not for long. Of those people responding about their firefish in groups, how long have you had them like this?

Every single story I've read of firefish in groups starts out well and then ends up with one fish after a year or two. It's the same story you see with Banggai Cardinalfish in trios.

 

[snorvich]

Juveniles can get along for a while. Adults, not for long. Of those people responding about their firefish in groups, how long have you had them like this?

Every single story I've read of firefish in groups starts out well and then ends up with one fish after a year or two. It's the same story you see with Banggai Cardinalfish in trios.

Exactly. Anecdotal stories usually forget to supply the time frame. Sometimes you can get lucky and a pair will bond, but that is the exception not the rule. Banggai are often sold in trios hoping to get a pair, but long term you will have at most two.

 

[ser_renely]

I have a purple and a reg they don't really get a long but they are tolerant of each other. They sleep near each other, don't seem too bothered for the most part. If they aggressiveness increases I will take one out.

55g and had them for a month+.

 

[tahoe61]

Introduced three orange firefish at a young age, very little aggression going on 2 years.

I think the key is odd numbers and introduction at a young age.

 

[nlandgraf]

I just put 3 in my 150 yesterday, I hope I'm not down to one in a month too

 

[GhostCon1]

I love how ****ed off firefish always look

Also, remember that the firefish and the purple firefish will fight, too. They are similar to each other in appearance. But, I sincerely hope that more and more of the 'tolerant' personalities start showing up, having a whole school of firefish would be amazing.

But until that day, tread with caution and remove one when agression shows... or bye bye firefish.