Firefishes -> school or single ?
- Thread starter mling
- Start date
Firefish don't school. Juveniles will get along together for a while and then start beating the hell out of each other until you're left with two (if you're lucky) or one. This happens pretty much regardless of what size tank they're in.
If you want a very similar fish that will form peacable social groups, Ptereleotris zebra (or any in the Pterelotris genus) would be a much better selection. P. zebra in particular is a very rugged fish that adapts easily to captivity. The adults will constantly display at each other and spawn if you keep them well fed.
If you want a very similar fish that will form peacable social groups, Ptereleotris zebra (or any in the Pterelotris genus) would be a much better selection. P. zebra in particular is a very rugged fish that adapts easily to captivity. The adults will constantly display at each other and spawn if you keep them well fed.
These are very common fish at LFSs. Around here they are $10-15 a piece at most.
Husbandry info is pretty straightforward and about the same as that for firefish. They will eat just about anything that floats by and should be fed twice a day. They will need a "bolthole" which is typically a depression underneath a rock, just above the sand. However, they will acclimate just fine without sand as well. Aggressive fish like lunare wrasses or large dottybacks will chase them and cause them to hide and not feed. In general these fish will be the lowest in any community pecking order. Adults are about 4-5" long so a 75 gallon tank would be appropriate for a group of 4-6.
Husbandry info is pretty straightforward and about the same as that for firefish. They will eat just about anything that floats by and should be fed twice a day. They will need a "bolthole" which is typically a depression underneath a rock, just above the sand. However, they will acclimate just fine without sand as well. Aggressive fish like lunare wrasses or large dottybacks will chase them and cause them to hide and not feed. In general these fish will be the lowest in any community pecking order. Adults are about 4-5" long so a 75 gallon tank would be appropriate for a group of 4-6.
Could a small group of these be kept with a single firefish in the same tank? I think I remember that keeping different varieties of firefish together is a no-no for inter-species aggression reasons, but would that include these, given the similar body shape/habits?
The Escaped Ape":20i4l6s1 said:
Shouldn't be a problem. Firefish tend to play well with other fish, it's just members of the same genus they have a problem with.
FWIW I've kept a firefish with a yasha shrimp goby in a 6 gallon tank; they shared the burrow that the partner pistol shrimp excavated. With a group of dartfish I would expect the firefish to either shoal with them and hide in the same group bolthole or ignore them completely.
FANTASTIC suggestion, Matt. That's one of my favorites. 
However! I have found them to be even more "jumpy" and agile than firefishes. About like longnose hawks, none of which I EVER found save one poor crispy one that was wrapped in carpet fibers (we didn't find him til we moved).
You know, I think I still have a photo on my h/d of that yasha goby and shrimp. Sorry, had to nab it, hope you don't mind.
However! I have found them to be even more "jumpy" and agile than firefishes. About like longnose hawks, none of which I EVER found save one poor crispy one that was wrapped in carpet fibers (we didn't find him til we moved). You know, I think I still have a photo on my h/d of that yasha goby and shrimp. Sorry, had to nab it, hope you don't mind.
Matt_":2jlseycp said:
Thanks Matt. I really like this idea. The Ptereleotris zebra can be really beautiful (those photos you posted are perhaps the best I've seen - maybe not all will look that good, but still...) and I love Firefish. The idea of one schooling with the P zebra is pretty wild. I can't believe it lived with the Yasha Goby in the same burrow! Another beautiful fish. I'm a real sucker for gobies.
BTW, nice pict Marina. 8)
If I recollect, that's Matt's photo (I'm fairly certain, but no guarantee). I love those barred gobies, m'self. As far as I'm concerned they're as pretty as scissor-tail gobies, which means gorgeous in a holding tank. But, I am fond of sublime beauty, such as is found in the Scopas tang.
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
