I'm going to stop taking advice from my LFS!

annabelseymour · 11/02/2013, 05:27 AM

Hi everyone,

Had 2 purple firefish both doing well as only small and peaceful tank mates - had their own cave, always together and ate well. Was in my LFS and was told that firefish like to shoal and they do well in groups. When I asked if they would be okay if added at different times was told okay. So got 2 more purple firefish and added to tank. For first 24 hours all seemed well and all got on - however, one of my original ones has paired up with one of the new ones, leaving his original buddy on his own! The other new one has gone off and found his own cave and seems intimidated by the newly formed 'pair' - only coming out to eat when the pair aren't around.

Is this normal? Should I be taking any of them back to the LFS or should I just let them get on with it? Feeling very sad for the 2 separated ones!

I have 150 UK gallon (180 US gallon) - not sure why UK gallons are bigger than US ones??? About 50 gallon sump - around 130lbs live rock and live sand. Fish are 2 tiny clowns, 6 tiny chromis (not bullying the smallest one), 3 medium pyjama cardinals, 1 cleaner wrasse (something else the LFS shouldn't have sold me but is eating all the same), 1 watchman goby, 1 blue cheek goby (sifting sand all over my tank) and a cleanup crew.

Thanks

fishgate · 11/02/2013, 05:41 AM

UK = Imperial Gallons > US Gallon

billdogg · 11/02/2013, 05:45 AM

Give them all some time to get used to each other and you will probably be ok. Firefish do best as either one or several, although the weakest may eventually be thinned.

Whenever you want to add something to your tank, you will be best served by researching first, buying second. This forum is a good place to look, as is the website www.wetwebmedia.com

ca1ore · 11/02/2013, 08:50 AM

Certainly take advice from your LFS with a grain of salt, but also recognize that many things in a reef tank are not absolutes. Fish compatibility, for example, depends somewhat on the individual fish, so general advice is often wrong.

Andy_B · 11/02/2013, 09:17 AM

I recently bought 4 purple firefish (got all 4 together). They have been in the QT for 3weeks and have had no problems so far.

2 do hang round together in open water and the other 2 tend to stay in (different) caves, but they all come out to feed together and haven't seen any aggression.

The QT is only 55gal and they will be going into the 150 next weekend when i get back from my biz trip this week.

HumbleFish · 11/02/2013, 09:49 AM

IME; firefish usually whittle themselves down until only one remains (or to a pair if you get lucky). This doesn't always happen right away - it can sometimes take a year or more (as they mature). It's possible you had a happy couple and some little hottie stole the man away (or vice versa).

Nothing you can do now except let nature run it's course.

annabelseymour · 11/02/2013, 11:36 AM

I think you are right - I did have a happy couple. Just that the hottie who stole the man away is at least twice the size of him and they make a very odd couple!!

I have noticed that they are all feeding though, just in different areas of the tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they all find their own areas if they can't get on together.

HumbleFish · 11/02/2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annabelseymour

I think you are right - I did have a happy couple. Just that the hottie who stole the man away is at least twice the size of him and they make a very odd couple!!

I have noticed that they are all feeding though, just in different areas of the tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they all find their own areas if they can't get on together.

You have a large tank for them, so that's something in your favour.

Btw, I had the pleasure of visiting your country when I lived in the UK. Conwy & Tenby are just beautiful!

blue sea star · 11/02/2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annabelseymour

I think you are right - I did have a happy couple. Just that the hottie who stole the man away is at least twice the size of him and they make a very odd couple!!

I have noticed that they are all feeding though, just in different areas of the tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they all find their own areas if they can't get on together.

With many fish the females are larger than the males. But just as with humans, relative size of the "hottie" doesn't make a lot of difference. Maybe the "hottie" is a male? Or they're both male? Or both female?

:-)

pakirri · 11/04/2013, 06:49 PM

They are swingers lol

Andy_B · 11/04/2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

Btw, I had the pleasure of visiting your country when I lived in the UK. Conwy & Tenby are just beautiful!

Just noticed this as well! I am from Cardiff originally (live in Malaysia now)... What part of Wales are you from?

HumbleFish · 11/05/2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_B

Just noticed this as well! I am from Cardiff originally (live in Malaysia now)... What part of Wales are you from?

I'm from USA. My wife and I lived in London for a while, and got to travel around the UK.

11/02/2013, 05:27 AM	#1
annabelseymour Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wales, U.K. Posts: 53	I'm going to stop taking advice from my LFS! Hi everyone, Had 2 purple firefish both doing well as only small and peaceful tank mates - had their own cave, always together and ate well. Was in my LFS and was told that firefish like to shoal and they do well in groups. When I asked if they would be okay if added at different times was told okay. So got 2 more purple firefish and added to tank. For first 24 hours all seemed well and all got on - however, one of my original ones has paired up with one of the new ones, leaving his original buddy on his own! The other new one has gone off and found his own cave and seems intimidated by the newly formed 'pair' - only coming out to eat when the pair aren't around. Is this normal? Should I be taking any of them back to the LFS or should I just let them get on with it? Feeling very sad for the 2 separated ones! I have 150 UK gallon (180 US gallon) - not sure why UK gallons are bigger than US ones??? About 50 gallon sump - around 130lbs live rock and live sand. Fish are 2 tiny clowns, 6 tiny chromis (not bullying the smallest one), 3 medium pyjama cardinals, 1 cleaner wrasse (something else the LFS shouldn't have sold me but is eating all the same), 1 watchman goby, 1 blue cheek goby (sifting sand all over my tank) and a cleanup crew. Thanks

11/02/2013, 05:41 AM	#2
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	UK = Imperial Gallons > US Gallon __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

11/02/2013, 05:45 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Give them all some time to get used to each other and you will probably be ok. Firefish do best as either one or several, although the weakest may eventually be thinned. Whenever you want to add something to your tank, you will be best served by researching first, buying second. This forum is a good place to look, as is the website www.wetwebmedia.com __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/02/2013, 08:50 AM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Certainly take advice from your LFS with a grain of salt, but also recognize that many things in a reef tank are not absolutes. Fish compatibility, for example, depends somewhat on the individual fish, so general advice is often wrong.

11/02/2013, 09:17 AM	#5
Andy_B Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 48	I recently bought 4 purple firefish (got all 4 together). They have been in the QT for 3weeks and have had no problems so far. 2 do hang round together in open water and the other 2 tend to stay in (different) caves, but they all come out to feed together and haven't seen any aggression. The QT is only 55gal and they will be going into the 150 next weekend when i get back from my biz trip this week.

11/02/2013, 09:49 AM	#6
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	IME; firefish usually whittle themselves down until only one remains (or to a pair if you get lucky). This doesn't always happen right away - it can sometimes take a year or more (as they mature). It's possible you *had* a happy couple and some little hottie stole the man away (or vice versa). Nothing you can do now except let nature run it's course.

11/02/2013, 11:36 AM	#7
annabelseymour Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wales, U.K. Posts: 53	I think you are right - I did have a happy couple. Just that the hottie who stole the man away is at least twice the size of him and they make a very odd couple!! I have noticed that they are all feeding though, just in different areas of the tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they all find their own areas if they can't get on together.

11/04/2013, 06:49 PM	#10
pakirri Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 196	They are swingers lol