Purple Firefish

[MrsHaggis]

I wanted to add a pair of purple firefish to my tank but after a lot of reading up on the species, it seems that they jump (a lot).

I don't have a lid on my tank and don't really want to put one on. The tank is 95 Gallons with lot of places for them to hide in the rock. But I am concerned about the jumping.

Does anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks

[DSMchad]

Ive had plenty of either kind of firefish jump out for some carpet surfing while im not home.
Your best option is to put an eggcrate cover, or else they most likely will jump out eventually. one of mine got out through the eggcrate even.
Ive had them jump into the overflow box and end up in the sump also.
All it takes is for something to spook them and they are in the air, alot of times when the lights shut off my one remaining firefish will jump.

[agreeive?fish]

the question is do you want to put a some type of top to prevent jumping on your tank or not...

because its not a question of if they will jump but a question of when will they jump..its 99.9999999999999999% chance the fire fish is gonna jump and the color of the firefish makes no diffrence if it will jump or not

[Jonny Roks]

+1 i bought one and he jumped the same day lol. wasnt home to save the poor fella.

i refuse to run a lid so i wont buy one again. just my experience

[spleify]

Heres a good link for a different option on making a top for your tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=817485

HTH

Good luck

[DSMchad]

this is how i did mine.. someone told me they found black eggcrate at menard's so im gonna have to go check on that.

[MrsHaggis]

I don't want to put a top on the tank so there will be no firefish in the tank.

What could I replace them with?

My other fish (that I will be adding over the next few months) are:

Foxface Rabbitfish
2 Clowns
3 Green Chromis
Coral Beauty
Flame hawkfish

I really want a pair of reef dwellers (that won't jump).

It will be a reef tank.

Any ideas?

[rbnice1]

Maybe a small goby like a yellow watchman or a yashika or a randells. I would say there are a few wrasse like a mystery but they are jumpers as well.

I have a open top on my tank but I have a fully enclosed hood so when they jump they end up back in the tank.

[DSMchad]

What about cardinals? I like the 2 silver / black ones i have.

[spleify]

The disadvantage to egg crate is the light interruption you will get. Egg crate is actually light diffuser. If you go to a store that is what it is sold as. IMO it blocks to much beneficial light. That is why I like the clear mesh tops like the one I linked to above.

[MrsHaggis]

I've read that the yellow watchman goby is also a jumper.
Plus I'm not sure how compatible it would be with the Flame Hawkfish........

My husband doesn't really like cardinalfish so that's a no go area. Also aren't they more open water swimmers rather than reef dwellers?

Our tank is totally open so any fish that jumps is just a bad idea.

[gtfourmn]

If you don't like the egg crate, you can probably go with birds net, which does not diffuse the light as much as egg crates.

[hybridazn]

i've had a purple firefish for over 6 months with a lidless tank. he just sticks to the bottom of the tank.

[tahoe61]

Originally Posted by agreeive?fish

the question is do you want to put a some type of top to prevent jumping on your tank or not...

Because its not a question of if they will jump but a question of when will they jump..its 99.9999999999999999% chance the fire fish is gonna jump and the color of the firefish makes no diffrence if it will jump or not

+1

[phil519]

Set up a PVC/Barnacle home for them. I have an open-top and my firefish has never jumped once. It has been 13 months now.

The prevalence of jumping among it's brethren may either be a) a sign that I got the lucky one or b) just a matter of compatibility/living space.

Mind you the firefish was the second species added to the tank. The cardinalfish (my dither fish) were first added. Firefish sees cardinalfish - thinks it's safe and is out and about.

When started my firefish bolts into the pvc/barnacle home. It's designed for jawfish (e.g. the blue-spot one) but mine has been taken over by the firefish.

EDIT: not sure it is matters but mine is "regular" firefish.

[MrsHaggis]

I'd really love to get a pair but I'm not willing to take the risk and killing a fish. So I'm definitely looking for a replacement reef dwelling pair that don't jump and can survive along with the flame hawkfish that I plan on adding.

A tough thing to find so far............

[MrsHaggis]

I'm thinking the bi-colour blennie.......but would I have to get a mated pair?
I'm thinking I would........

[MrsHaggis]

Maybe one blennie and one royal gramma??
Not a pair but ..........

[RobH]

My purple firefish has never jumped and I had lidless for about 4 months. Guess I was lucky. I'd wager any fish is capable of jumping out given the right circumstances though.

[Nagle]

Do you have a canopy? A canopy with a back on it will help make sure the fish fall back into the tank when they jump. I have 2 fire fish and have had them for ofer 2 years. One red and one purple.

[MrsHaggis]

Nope no canopy the tank is wide open......a pic might help!!!

[Dave Harms]

When I had my open top 70 gallon, I had a hawkfish jump, various wrasses, fire-fishes etc. All that time I had a yellow watchman and he never jumped (3+ years). You pays your monies and you takes your chances.

One thing that seems to help... don't have the lights in your tank come on in the morning to a pitch black room.... have a lamp or 2 on a timer so the fish get used to the light/being awake. Worked for me once I figured it out and for others that I have read about.

[MrsHaggis]

I have the moonlights that come on about 3pm, the main lights come on 30 minutes after that.

Before the moon lights there is daylight from the window to arouse the fish from their slumber!!