Purple Firefish in Hiding

[Mbakeroo]

I do faithful weekly 10% water changes. All parameters a good. After this weeks water change on Monday, my firefish has not come out of his cave. He was one of the first fish in the tank with the clowns almost 6 months ago now.

Most of the fish go into hiding during the "cleaning" process but come right back out when I'm done. This week I noticed my firefish has remained in his cave (that he sometimes shares with the pistol shrimp). I am not sure if he was in he cave BEFORE I started the water change this week but definitely noticed he hasn't come out since.

Everyone has always gotten along well and there are no new additions to the tank in over a month. I'm worried he doesn't come out to eat during feeding time and will starve !!!

Purple Firefish
Pistol Shrimp (seems paried with the firefish and NOT my goby)
Yellow watchman goby
2 Ocellaris Clowns
Bristoltooth Chevron Tang
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Flame dwarf angel
Cleaner shrimp
Assorted snails / hermit crabs

 

[toothybugs]

Mine's been hiding this week too. Strange, but, its quirky behavior is kind of endearing.

 

[StartrTank]

I'm just starting out, currently only have a clown and a purple firefish (as far as fish go) and my purple firefish hides all day, randomly comes out but doesnt' stay out more than a few seconds, and forget it if he/she sees you. Darts right back to his hiding spot. He does however come out to eat with no problem so I'm sure he's doing fine. I questioned this as well and another member said that is typical behavior for that fish, the are very shy/skittish. Again, I'm new to this so I can only go off what others have told me.

Beautiful fish btw, here's a shot of mine though not as good a picture

 

[Triggerfish]

This week I noticed my firefish has remained in his cave (that he sometimes shares with the pistol shrimp).

can you see the fish? if not, the pistol may have gotten ahold of him.

 

[Mbakeroo]

When I first got him he hid a lot too and would dart in whenever I walked up to tank. Once he got comfortable though he was out all day long and only seemed to go into the cave to sleep at night. Has been the model fish for the last 4 months always swimming around the entire tank and eating every day.

This is odd behavior for him and why I'm concerned. He is one of my favorites . . .

 

[E46Twist]

If he is alive I wouldn't worry too much. Fish can be weird and are not mindless robots on a set loop. Does it come out to be at at all?

 

[Silly clownfish]

Are you sure he is in the cave? Not to alarm you, but a fish that size could probably fit through a siphon without you noticing when cleaning. I have had to rescue platys out of the waste bucket in my FW tank.

That said, sometimes fish just hide when they see you enter the room for a few days if they have had a scare.

 

[ajespo85]

Also, they are known jumpers. When I dont see a fish for a day or two, I check the surrounding areas. I'm pretty sure I lost a fish that way, but I believe the cat got to it first.. haha

 

[Mbakeroo]

Purple Firefish in Hiding

Picture attached I just took. This is his normal cave, he has been further in the last few days. Since he still has lots of color, maybe he is not sick but just stuck and can't back out? Is that even possible? And has not been out at all, I've become obsessed checking on him.

I wouldn't mind him hanging in there all the time if he just came out to eat for a minute or two.

 

[Mbakeroo]

Well I knew the behavior was very out of the norm . . . and today he was out of the cave but unfortunately he was also dead. Thanks all for your input, just wishing we knew what happened.