firefish question

[picoreefguy]

hey guys i have a purple firefish that has started to look kinda skinny in the past week or two. he eats fine when he comes out to eat but the problem is he dosent come out much lately for some reason. since they seem to school do you think adding one or two more would encourage him to come out more and eat?

 

[thanh386]

The red ones and hellfrechi school, the purple ones a Richard and likes to kill each other.

 

[jayu]

I'm not sure how it will pan out adding another. I bought mine as a pair an they're constantly out together. If you do add another and they don't accept each other, it may be hard to get one or the other out. Those guys are fast and can get lost quickly.

 

[picoreefguy]

yea i hate how quick they are. and than what do you think about adding a red one instead maybe that would help out. id add a helfrichi if i had the money lol

 

[thanh386]

The purple one tends to hide, kf on the board and I both have one. It comes out only to eat. But the red trio I had were always out. But they also like to jump... And slowly one at a time they jump on to my lights and fried

 

[ichthyoid]

I have no problems with my purple fire fish. If anything, it's the red one's that I wish would stay out a little more. Both pairs are doing pretty well though.

Is there anything in your tank that might be intimidating or harassing them?

 

[picoreefguy]

i dont think so every time i see him come out he just stays out for a second and shoots right back into his little hole in the rock. nothing even gets near him before he goes back into hiding

 

[rdnelson]

I have the same thing going on Pico. I thought about adding a red but was told they would not hang together so I didn't bother. Would love to know if adding a purple works out. I may think of doing that down the road. Seems mine likes to come out when there is no flow in the tank. I first thought it was aggression but when the pumps are off he is out and about and doesn't seem worried about the other fish. As soon as the pumps are back on he dives for the rocks.

 

[picoreefguy]

if i end up adding one ill let you know rich. i havent really noticed if mine does that when the pumps are off but ill have to try it and see if he does

 

[picoreefguy]

ok ive had the vortechs off for about 30-45 mins and just left the return on and the firefish has been out the whole time and ate a few bits of food. so im gonna turn off the pumps for a while everytime i feed and see if he starts to fatten back up.

 

[rdnelson]

LOL Think we stumbled onto to something. Mine will come out now and again if I feed with the pumps on but only long enough to grab a bite. When I spot feed corals and anemones I have all flow off and he stays out the whole time. I also see him out when I am doing water changes and the flow is off.

 

[picoreefguy]

ive been turning the pumps off to feed and hes been coming out to feed so problem solved there. unfortunately i have another problem on my hands

 

[rdnelson]

Saw your earlier post about the bed. Big time bummer. :-(

I was a bit surprised last night. My purple firefish came out for a few minutes even with the flow going.

 

[butch]

My purple firefish used to out all the time till I added my starry blenny to the tank.

 

[rdnelson]

Mine was given to me because he was being picked on by another purpole fire fish in a members tank. No one seems to pick on him but he is very shy.

 

[brianw]

Rich, I am sure that is why he is shy. I bet he will get better over time. I am so glad he has a good home now.

 

[jayu]

I think firefish are naturally skittish. They're in the dart fish family.

 

[rdnelson]

Brian, he is doing good. I see him a little bit more all the time. Whenever I feed the tank I make sure to get some back in the rocks where he likes to hang out.

 

[brianw]

Awesome, the remaining one I have did the same at first now is out most of the time. I am sure he will feel more confident soon.