do firefish school?

melypr1985

melypr1985

Member
ok. here's my delima. I always thought that firefish couldn't be kept together because they would fight. Now I realize that you could keep a male and female together but not a group. Lately I've been corrected by many people on several different forums and stores. They have ALL told me that I'm incorrect that and firefish do better in groups because they are schooling fish. I'm very confused.
In one of my books : The new encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium by: Greg Jennings it says "In spite of it's small size, the fire goby is exceedingly intolerant of the company of its own kind in aquarium surroundings, so keep individuals separate from each other to prevent serious fighting. Thrue pairs are more likely to be compatible in an aquarium." It sais the same thing for the Purple firefish.
I was also told that firefish will only shole when they are young but as they get older they either pair up (if they are male and female and like each other) or fight and kill each other off.
So, should I dismiss the knowledge in my books? or go with the masses of people that have told me otherwise?
The reason I ask is because I love the firefish but I want a small school of fish. I was thinking about the anthias but I'm not sure I have the room for even a small shool of them. If the firefish (as I have been told) will school then I would prefer them.
Thanks for all your help and induring my silly questions.
 
jaodissa

jaodissa

Member
Someone here suggested I get a few and school them in a thread I was asking for stock help. You need to buy them all at once was what I was told though.
 
melypr1985

melypr1985

Member
Originally Posted by Jaodissa
http:///forum/post/3155027
Someone here suggested I get a few and school them in a thread I was asking for stock help. You need to buy them all at once was what I was told though.
see, I've been told that as well, but when i worked at ***** (i know i know) we were told to put them all together and by the end of the week we only had 1 or 2 left without selling any. So I've seen them fight, but then again I have experienced reefers telling me otherwise. It's confusing. but that's why I'm asking in a firefish specific thread. I want to get the general concensus before I risk the lives of these cute little fish.
 
cherylann

cherylann

Member
I bought three fire fish at a young age to put in my 28 gal nano. No problems, no fighting or aggressive behaviors. And during the day they school in the current of the tank. Fire fish are jumpers so if your tank is not covered you may have a problem. Buy them young, and make sure you do not have aggressive fish in the tank already as they will hide and get too stressed out.
 
mgatdog

mgatdog

Member
I had 2 in a 55 they did great for 3 years .Until I was cleaning my tank one day and 1 jump to his death and the other die of of being lonely I guess.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
your experience in ***** should be understandable...the tanks you had were way too small to have more than a few in. as shown, the bigger tanks give them enough room to have less aggression.
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
not to hijack the thread...but could you mix regular and purple to form a school or should you stick to one type?
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
I know have a purple, a fire and a scissor tail and they are fine in my 120, they do NOT school though but there is no aggression.
 
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