Help Wanted: A Firefish Psychiatrist

[albfishin']

Hey everyone.

The reason for the title is this.......I've had a pair of firefish, along with 2 purples, 1 blue gudgeon and a pair of Barbershop Gobies. In stocking all of these gobies together, I thought that there could be a problem between the different species. They all of get along great in their 55 gal home. The 2 purps share a burrow, next to the gudgeon and the 2 barbershops (gudg and barbershops burrow together). Anyway, back to the point.
The 2 fires were bought as a pair and they've been in my tank together for about 4 mos. They other day (at feeding time) I noticed for the first time they were not together. One was out feeding and when he was, I noticed a some fin damage. His dorsal (almost the length of his back) was about half its normal size and his tail looked a little ragged. The second one came out and the first chased it back under a rock. These two have never behaved like this.
I had a chance to look at the second during feeding today and he had some damage to his right pectoral fin. Both are feeding but they defiantely are not feeling the love any longer. In fact they seem to be on opposite sides of the tank today.
Does anyone know what could be up? Are they doing the male/female thing? Are they doing a male/male thing? It's just weird because they have been fine up until this week and were my original pair

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks-Geoff

 

[sharkboy13]

change the way ur lr is arranged, that way they cant establish territories

 

[mcbdz]

I'm not sure, but maybe they are becoming sexually mature and aren't different sexes after all.

I would watch them closely and if they keep fighting you may have to seperate them. Sorry, not much help. maybe somebody has more info.

 

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by AlbFishin'
Are they doing a male/male thing?
Thats what I think....when they get old enough and mature then this is normally the case...they do well together for a while then they fight to the death...

 

[puffer32]

My red and purple FF loved each other when i first got them. Afew months later they hated each other, I was going to seperate them into different tanks, but the red FF jumped ship, so now i only have the purple. I would not put 2 together again.

 

[albfishin']

That's wierd.......I was under the impression that you should always purchase them in pairs (research and lfs suggestion)

Thanks for the input and I will keep an eye on the situation.

 

[renogaw]

the other problem you may be running into is purple and red firefish don't get along and will fight each other. it may be the purples...

 

[darthtang aw]

Don't buy them in pairs, they will always fight. 3 or more is great...I never understood the difference but I kept 3 firefish in the same tank for over a year and half with no problems.

 

[albfishin']

It's definitely fire v. fire. The purp's just hang and every once in a while will chase the others out of its territory, with the pursuit stopping quickly. The fires are relentless toward each other. One will chase the other through lr caves, crevices, etc. I haven't witnessed any contact, other than chasing, but obviously some has occurred with minor fin damage to each.
I have seriously thought about splitting them, however, I know it's going to take a major tank breakdown to be successful.