Scared Firefish?

flatfish

flatfish

Member
I recently released three Firefish Gobies into my 55g system. The Firefish were acclimated early yesterday and seemed fine through the late evening. In fact all day yesterday they hung out in the open area of the tank and were very active. This morning they were in hiding. Two of them were huddled together under a rock and the other I haven’t found yet. They did not seem to be “breathing” hard. But, they seem to be hiding (or sleeping). The other fish in the tank are a Bicolor Angel, a Bicolor Dottyback, a Blue Cheek Gobie and a Lawnmower Blenny. The Dottyback was the only fish concerned with the presence of the new Firefish and seem to chase them around a bit, not excessively though. I was wondering if the presence of the Dottyback is too much for the Firefish? Are Firefish too overly timid to be compatible with the Dottyback? Is this normal behavior and should I expect them to reappear at some point? Is there such thing as delayed stress due to the acclimation process? These are really cool fish and I’d hate to lose them.
All of the other fish show no signs of stress.
The tank is 8 months old and all my water parameters are fine. The system has 70lbs of LR a few inverts, corals, cleaning crew, and a couple of extra crabs. There’s plenty of places for the Firefish to hide.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks all!
 
pufferlover

pufferlover

Active Member
Well flatfish it souns as tho 2 have paired off and the 3rd one is odd man out. I have done this in the past and normally when you do 3 and one is paired the other will go hide and not to worry you it probably will not live long (simple facts of fish life). Now the fact they are hiding is just cause they are new and sort of scared at the moment. Seldom does a new fish go in a tank and start swimming around (happens but not often). I would say leave them be and don't go looking for other just yet. They do like to hide a lot (mine normally appear for dinner but not much else- they live in holes in the live rock in my reef tank.
[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Pufferlover ]
 
amphiprion

amphiprion

Member
Firefish are timid even in the best of times. They will not usually stray out very far from the bolt hole they have found. Another problem will probably be the Dottyback. They are mean little fish especially to smaller timid species.
 
flatfish

flatfish

Member
Things were better when I came home from work. Two of the Firefish were out and about and nibbling on some drifting feed weed :). By accident I found the third. In the sump. (Dough!)
Thanks all!
 
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