Firefish died!!

[nick0604]

I started my tank about 3 weeks ago and it has gone through it's cycle. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20, phosphate 0.5, calcium 500, alkalinity 300+. Temp is 79-80 degrees and ph is 8.3. Wondering what could have caused this? I have a damsel in the tank along with a fire shrimp, peppermint shrimp and 5 turbo snails in a 20 gallon set up all of which are doing well. Also have 25 lbs of live rock. Any suggestions?

 

[nick0604]

Could it have been that the damsel and the firefish lived in the same cave and the damsel picked on him too much? I only had the firefish for 3 days.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Yup. It's quite possible that the damsel killed him. Damsels are mean little fish that are better kept in species only tanks.

 

[mmyuki]

I had a damsel in my 30g when I first set it up because they were cheap to buy. I introduced some a clown and a firefish and my firefish ended up jumping out from being bullied so much. So yeah that would probably be the cause, take the damsel back to your LFS and get some store credit.