I think I have a dead firefish.....should I try and dig it out the rockwork?

JG1 · 02/05/2011, 09:15 AM

Or just let the bacteria consume it?

I don't have too many bristle worms I don't think since I started out with dry fiji rock and only used a tiny piece of LR for seeding. Do have lots of tiny pods though.

Not sure I should let it decay or try and find it.

noahm · 02/05/2011, 09:23 AM

What makes you think it is dead? Your tank is 100g. I wouldn't worry about it for a second. Let it disappear or reappear on its own.

Misled · 02/05/2011, 09:25 AM

It depends on your system. Mines been up and running for a few years and there's crabs, worms, a ton of mini stars, and a large serpent star. It would be gone in a day. The bacteria won't really do it on it's own without releasing a bit of crap in your tank for a few days. If you don't have a good CUC, keep an eye on your levels.

cakemanPA · 02/05/2011, 09:28 AM

A firefish in 100 gallons of water should not be a problem. You should keep an eye on the levels. I would not tear the rocks apart unless you have to.

JG1 · 02/05/2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahm

What makes you think it is dead? Your tank is 100g. I wouldn't worry about it for a second. Let it disappear or reappear on its own.

Because I added a PB tang last Sunday, which both my firefish shot into the rockwork immediately and I didn't see either until Wednesday. Wednesday came and one firefish has come out and is swimming around the tank just fine. The other firefish is missing, and that's been for a week now.

cilyjr · 02/05/2011, 10:01 AM

there is a possibility the fish is shy and not dead

Ritten · 02/05/2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cilyjr

there is a possibility the fish is shy and not dead

I think so also. I wouldn't worry after a week with a firefish. Other fish maybe, but not a firefish. Tearing apart your rock work looking for it would really stress that tang.

frankpayne32 · 02/05/2011, 11:50 AM

Don't count it out right away. Firefish are very shy when first introduced to an aquarium. When I first put one in my tank I didn't see it for a month. I assumed it had died and was consumed but there he was one morning healthy as ever.

JG1 · 02/05/2011, 01:55 PM

Cool, hopefully the lil guy is still ok.

aleonn · 02/05/2011, 02:05 PM

Let's hope for the best that the firefish is hiding. But worst case scenario, I wouldn't worry about water quality issues from the dead firefish in your 100g tank.

Salamander · 02/05/2011, 02:35 PM

I had two firefish go missing for nearly 3 months. I thought they were goners. Then one day my wife comments on the new fish....it was the two firefish back out again.

JG1 · 02/05/2011, 02:36 PM

lol!

aleonn · 02/05/2011, 05:13 PM

Wow, MIA for 3 months!!

BTW, are firefish "jumpers?" I've never had one, but if so it's possible they jumped into your overflow box.

syrinx · 02/05/2011, 05:49 PM

I had a loach that I would see once a year- for 15 years. It was always on christmas morning- the only time I was up at the glasscrack of dawn to see it.

snorvich · 02/05/2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

It depends on your system. Mines been up and running for a few years and there's crabs, worms, a ton of mini stars, and a large serpent star. It would be gone in a day. The bacteria won't really do it on it's own without releasing a bit of crap in your tank for a few days. If you don't have a good CUC, keep an eye on your levels.

What he said.

KyleO · 02/06/2011, 02:15 AM

Take a close look around on the floor around your tank.............firefish can move and I have had one jump out before. Not a fun thought but better than worrying about your levels........

fishsticks4sale · 02/06/2011, 03:03 AM

i wouldnt worry not a bit, i have a 30 gallon an had a huge fire fish die on me. snails and shrimp will make quick work of his body

Typlus5 · 02/06/2011, 06:09 AM

I deployed last year for 4 months, 2 months into it my wife tells me there's a clown fish missing. Two more months pass and when I return I was giving the tank a real good cleaning, the clown is in the over flow and was doing fine. When I reunited the pair they never separated after that.

frankpayne32 · 02/06/2011, 08:39 AM

They are definitely jumpers when startled.

02/05/2011, 09:15 AM	#1
JG1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ 08081 Posts: 2,256	I think I have a dead firefish.....should I try and dig it out the rockwork? Or just let the bacteria consume it? I don't have too many bristle worms I don't think since I started out with dry fiji rock and only used a tiny piece of LR for seeding. Do have lots of tiny pods though. Not sure I should let it decay or try and find it. __________________ -John Current Tank Info: 100g Rimless Starphire

02/05/2011, 09:25 AM	#3
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	It depends on your system. Mines been up and running for a few years and there's crabs, worms, a ton of mini stars, and a large serpent star. It would be gone in a day. The bacteria won't really do it on it's own without releasing a bit of crap in your tank for a few days. If you don't have a good CUC, keep an eye on your levels. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

02/05/2011, 10:01 AM	#6
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	there is a possibility the fish is shy and not dead __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

02/05/2011, 11:50 AM	#8
frankpayne32 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,177	Don't count it out right away. Firefish are very shy when first introduced to an aquarium. When I first put one in my tank I didn't see it for a month. I assumed it had died and was consumed but there he was one morning healthy as ever. __________________ Frank Payne Advice to new hobbyists: listen to people that have a tank you would like to have one day, not to those with a high post count. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon in-wall (build thread is my homepage).

02/05/2011, 01:55 PM	#9
JG1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ 08081 Posts: 2,256	Cool, hopefully the lil guy is still ok. __________________ -John Current Tank Info: 100g Rimless Starphire

02/05/2011, 09:23 AM	#2
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	What makes you think it is dead? Your tank is 100g. I wouldn't worry about it for a second. Let it disappear or reappear on its own.

02/05/2011, 09:28 AM	#4
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	A firefish in 100 gallons of water should not be a problem. You should keep an eye on the levels. I would not tear the rocks apart unless you have to.

02/05/2011, 02:05 PM	#10
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Let's hope for the best that the firefish is hiding. But worst case scenario, I wouldn't worry about water quality issues from the dead firefish in your 100g tank.

02/05/2011, 02:35 PM	#11
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	I had two firefish go missing for nearly 3 months. I thought they were goners. Then one day my wife comments on the new fish....it was the two firefish back out again. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

02/05/2011, 02:36 PM	#12
JG1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ 08081 Posts: 2,256	lol! __________________ -John Current Tank Info: 100g Rimless Starphire

02/05/2011, 05:13 PM	#13
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Wow, MIA for 3 months!! BTW, are firefish "jumpers?" I've never had one, but if so it's possible they jumped into your overflow box.

02/05/2011, 05:49 PM	#14
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I had a loach that I would see once a year- for 15 years. It was always on christmas morning- the only time I was up at the glasscrack of dawn to see it.

02/06/2011, 02:15 AM	#16
KyleO Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brentwood, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 737	Take a close look around on the floor around your tank.............firefish can move and I have had one jump out before. Not a fun thought but better than worrying about your levels........ __________________ Enjoy every moment......you don't have nearly as many left as you think!!! Current Tank Info: 135g Frag tank w/ attached 30ga Cube and 50ga refugium

02/06/2011, 03:03 AM	#17
fishsticks4sale Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 343	i wouldnt worry not a bit, i have a 30 gallon an had a huge fire fish die on me. snails and shrimp will make quick work of his body

02/06/2011, 06:09 AM	#18
Typlus5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gonzales Louisiana Posts: 966	I deployed last year for 4 months, 2 months into it my wife tells me there's a clown fish missing. Two more months pass and when I return I was giving the tank a real good cleaning, the clown is in the over flow and was doing fine. When I reunited the pair they never separated after that.

02/06/2011, 08:39 AM	#19
frankpayne32 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,177	They are definitely jumpers when startled. __________________ Frank Payne Advice to new hobbyists: listen to people that have a tank you would like to have one day, not to those with a high post count. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon in-wall (build thread is my homepage).

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