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The suddenly reclusive firefish

C

Candi

I've had my purple firefish in my tank since December. I always joked that I had him trained, as he was always front and center in the tank and not shy at all. About 2 weeks ago that all changed, for no apparent reason (ie no new additions, nothing moved, other fish acting the same, no harassment)... he has had his same sleeping place at the bottom rear of the tank since I introduced him, the difference now is that he stays there all the time. He briefly comes out when I feed the tank to eat and then right back into the rockwork.

He's my favorite fish, and beautiful... any ideas on getting him back out in the open?
 
C

Candi

mystery solved.

the 6 line wrasse did it :-\



Today when I fed I moved back but watched closely, he (firefish) started to come out and I got excited, then saw the wrasse chase him back to his spot, this happened several times in a row.

So now I know why he doesn't come out, my wrasse has turned to the dark side.
I always wondered why some people said they were evil and trouble... I always thought they were beautiful, great giant pod/worm eaters, and no trouble.

So now what to do? I can't have my favorite fish (the firefish) hiding living in fear barely getting enough to eat, but I also dread pulling apart my whole tank (jammed with LR and corals) to get the wrasse out... plus did I mention I really like watching her swim?

Ugh. Can't we all just get along LOL

If I do get the wrasse out can anyone recommend another fish that is colorful and always out swimming around but won't harass my firefish?
 
M

mladencovic

Usual recommendation is rearrangement of rocks, or something to disorient their territoriality (if it is the territoriality question).
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
may be another new fish to chase after the wrasse... so it won't bother the firefish...? :eek: ;D

am kidding... yeap, rearrange the rock work *may* work...
 
M

momof6kids

NJRC Member
malulu said:
may be another new fish to chase after the wrasse... so it won't bother the firefish...? :eek: ;D

am kidding... yeap, rearrange the rock work *may* work...
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a story. There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly....
 
C

Candi

Hmm.. I can try, honestly not sure how much I can rearrange... it's a 24g aquapod and pretty jam packed with rock & corals. Also given it's small size I'm sure she considers the whole thing her territory.

Maybe pulling her out, moving some rock around, and then putting her back in? Ugh either way it's not going to be fun.

Strange that she doesn't bother the little green banded goby at all but suddenly has it in for the firefish (before she never so much as looked at him, like I said he was always front and center)

Will update when I decide what to do and get it done :)
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
if you are going to rearrange the rocks...

- you should remove the wrasse.
- and let the fire fish go back in first for few days...
- then put back the wrasse last

if the above option was not possible, you may need to get a "holding net" to put the wrasse in the same tank and not letting it out for few days, then relase it back in later...
 
C

Candi

I was hopeful I could put her in holding in my 30g cube (as long as she doesn't harass my little green spotted puffer) since it would be an easy catch with the min. rockwork in there... otherwise one of those breeding net type things like you mentioned was on my mind :)
 
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