How do you tell male and female Helfrichi firefish apart?

sugartooth · #1 09/30/2007, 09:47 AM

I was wondering if there are trusted telltale marks? How do you know if you have a true pair?

I'm interested down the line in getting a pair, since I read that they will fight unless you have a pair.

Thanks in advance

zemuron114 · #2 09/30/2007, 04:26 PM

you can't really. The males will be larger/darker purple with a more solid purple line on the head. But when looking at 10 of them, its impossible to tell the difference

Helfrich are very peaceful fish. You can keep 10 together and they wont fight with each other. Just add 2 together (try to get one slightly smaller) and they will eventually pair up.

SuperNerd · #3 09/30/2007, 05:52 PM

Are you saying that they can be paired off like percs and ocellaris?

just dave · #4 10/01/2007, 12:59 AM

They can, you can't.

SuperNerd · #5 10/01/2007, 10:50 AM

That's awesome. I thought one would always kill the others off unless the tank was fairly large.

zemuron114 · #6 10/01/2007, 07:13 PM

helfrich go against the rules on firefish. Multiple helfrichi can be in the same tank. i would still suggest odd numbers though

SuperNerd · #7 10/06/2007, 01:33 AM

Does that mean that helfrichis can change sex or are just more tolerant of each other?

zemuron114 · #8 10/07/2007, 05:43 AM

they will change sex i believe. They are found in groups (from what i was told) in the wild so i believe they will change sex when nature determines its time. You will always be able to have 2 at one time. Even numbers (low even numbers) are iffy. i had 4 in my 180 reef and 3 hung out together and sort of shunned the 4th and smallest. There was obviously 1 dominant male (he was huge!) that would chase and protect the 2 he would hang out with. Unfortunately i lost 3 to a temp spike

i plan on having 5-10 once i get my temperatures under control and move back