Firefish Goby - keep in pairs only?

[starfishjackedme]

Firefish Goby - Nemateleotris magnifica:
How important is it to keep this species in pairs? Any suggestions?

 

[starfishjackedme]

bye the way this is in a 200 gal reef, so space is no issue.

 

[templar]

I keep just one purple firefish goby in my tank and he's fine. If I had a bigger tank I would have added more. Either way they are fine. Might be more shy when just one though.

 

[karlas]

its best to keep them singularly or in pairs. the next step up is 6 or more and with your size tank you could consider that. if kept in groups 3-5 they will eventually kill each other and you would end up with 1 or 2 anyway. they are a very shy and docile fish but when it comes to their own species they are funny that way. with 6 or more there are enough fish to spread out the aggression and chances are you wouldn't loose any. they can group and like each other one day then the next chase and be seperated from each other. if choosing a pair try to find 2 in a tank that are spending time with each other that is your best bet. i have a mated pair (found a little guy once) they are always together, but from time to time they seperate and hide at opposite ends of the tank for a day or 2. then get back together. they are very beautiful and if there are no aggressive tank mates will show themselves quite a bit.

 

[flameangel]

Right now I have two firefish (magnifica) which are doing wonderful! They are always together. They were purchased at the same time, from the same tank at the LFS. I also have a coral beauty in the tank with them. (38g tank). They all live in the same hole in the same rock! I used to have a bar goby who lived with them too, but he's gone now. When I first started the tank, I had just one firefish who did great....until a more agressive fish tore him up so badly that he died. It took about 2 weeks for the firefish to come out and really show there true personalities. I love them and would recommend keeping them in pairs. They are a wonderful addition to any tank as long as it doesn't get done in by a more agressive tank mate.

 

[k.lee]

If you don't know, make sure they can't jump, coz they do. And often kill each other as well.

 

[starfishjackedme]

Thanks everyone! I didn't know they are aggressive toward each other like that. <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />

 

[fshhub]

yeah, they completely dis like other ff, adn if you get a pair, you want to make sure that they arre compatible b4 you purchase them

 

[k.lee]

I learned the hard way when I bought 5 of them.