Firefish DartFish - can u mix orange & purple?

[yellow submarine]

Speaking of "Firefish" on the world's longest thread.....

I'm thinking of buying an orange and a purple firefish at the same time and putting in my 75g reef.

1) orange + purple compatible? or deathmatch?

2) do you have to concern yourself with what gender(s) gets put in?

3) can you have more than two, like a 3rd one in? (like two orange+purple or two purple+orange?)

[abigtroutt]

I would not mix them! My research from the other thread stated that can me aggressive towards each other unless you have a large tank.

[ScruffyRubicon]

More than likely, no matter how many you put in there, you will be left with one before too long.

[abigtroutt]

But I dont own them Whiskey may be the better person to ask

[yellow submarine]

Originally Posted by abigtroutt

I would not mix them! My research from the other thread stated that can me aggressive towards each other unless you have a large tank.

...but like 2 or 3 purples together okay? (or 2or3 oranges)

[ScruffyRubicon]

I had three reds and now have one!

[abigtroutt]

The Firefish is actually a member of the dartfish family. They are extremely hardy, but rather timid, so they should not be put in a tank with aggressive tankmates (AKA manly fish). Unless your aquarium is large or you obtain a mated pair, these fish should be kept singly, as they can become aggressive towards each other. They are also adept at leaping, so make sure your tank is covered.

[abigtroutt]

Nemateleotris magnifica = Firefish

This great aquarium fish is a member of the family Microdesmidae, which are often referred to as Firefish or dartfishes. It that should be housed with other passive species. If kept with pugnacious or larger, hyperactive tankmates, it will hide and not feed. This species is rarely aggressive towards other bottom-dwelling fishes.

[abigtroutt]

One more thing I found
Helfrich's Firefish has a very mild personality, and it will be picked on by more pugnacious fishes

[leveldrummer]

i have a regular and a purple together fine in a 120, was thinking about adding another of each, everything ive seen said they act fine together, the might fight, but they are so mellow it doesnt really add up to much.

[know-it-all]

Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon

More than likely, no matter how many you put in there, you will be left with one before too long.

ditto,
I tried several times to get firefish.
tries #1 thru #4 were through internet order,
#1 thru #3 died in transit, shipper's fault (never used FED-EX again)
#4 survived, but didn't last 24 hours.

try #5 came from the LFS down the street.
(this LFS was/is very reputable, I worked there for several years
and they tell me when I should not buy something)
I watched them come in, I watched the LFS throw 1/2 the tank away from die-off in the first 24 hours.
I waited 1 week, and watched them throw 1/2 of the that away.
I waited, and got 4 total "girly" fish, 1 purple and 3 reds in my 94g corner tank,
(I bought the LFS out of firefish, someone beat me to the other 4 survivors)

the purple would pick on one red at a time, until the target would stop eating, and starve to death.
When all the other firefish were gone, she calmed down, and my other fish picked on her until she stopped eating and died,

before I get, "that was horrible, you should have got the fish out, blah, blah, blah"
by the time I realized what was happening,

The 1st target was the weakest from the LFS, it wasn;t going to make it another week.

The 2nd target was retrieved, but died in my hospice tank.

The 3rd occurred over the matter of hours, while I was at work

The last one was a slow process, that I really didn't notice it.


anyway

I thought I bought only the strongest firefish available
I thought 94 gal would be big enough.
I thought the group of 4 would be big enough.
I thought being added at the same time would be good enough to keep the aggression down.

wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong

IMO keep the girly fish in the ocean, they don't survive in captivity

[pyron88]

Years ago, early 80's,? I had four or five firefish in a 100g that a friend made for me. It's been awhile ago but I don't remember any problems. They schooled and really looked great. As best as I can remember I think I had a copperband butterfly with them plus some other things. Heck, we didn't even have skimmers, sumps or any of that fancy stuff like today. I guess that's how we got by making all the mistaks we were making, we didn't know stuff couldn't live together.

[dkh0331]

My three, Moe, Larry & Curly have been together since the rebirth of my tank almost a year ago. They all hang out together and they all sleep in the same little cave. They only come out when the MH's are on.

I added a 3" black tang last week and whenever the tang comes over by them, they all dart back to their cave. Last nite, Moe braved it out a couple of times when the tang was over in their neck of the woods. Hopefully Larry & Curly will follow suit. FWIW, I bought all three from a LFS and they were all in the same display tank at the store.

[Geoff]

i don't have a problem with mine in a 125g tank.

G~

[yellow submarine]

okay so here is what i'm hearing:

dont mix them in a small tank (under 75g) but okay if larger than a 75g. if you can get them together at the LFS in the same tank and they lived beyond a week or two, okay to buy them. enjoy the 2 or 3 that you have while you've got them because over a year or so you'll be down to 1. if scared they will starve themselves to death. dont mix in with a dominant active swimmer (tangs?)