Firefish Question

Drock169 · #1 09/22/2007, 03:07 AM

Just got a Firefish/fire goby the other day. He seems to be really happy during the day but at night he hides in a cervices and goes sideways. I dont know too much about the nighttime habits of gobies, but is this normal or should I be concerned? Water parameters are normal, ammonia spiked up to 0.1 but is dropping. Generally I worry when I see things sideways. Any input is appreciated thanks

FOSELONE · #2 09/22/2007, 03:08 AM

if sure hes fine if hes eating okay...

Drock169 · #3 09/22/2007, 03:10 AM

hes eating all the pods he sees, plus stuff drifting in the column, as well as frozen brine shrimp, i'll be picking up Cyclop-eeze for him on monday, doesnt seem interested in mysis shrimp though.

ferg822 · #4 09/22/2007, 08:02 AM

this is what my firefish does, i think its ok but im still a noob and dont know that much

Norward · #5 09/22/2007, 10:49 AM

Typical behavior. Had one. Every night it would hideaway and each morning out it would come. Plan to get another.

CyboRob · #6 09/22/2007, 03:51 PM

Mine heads for cover everynight also. Comes out when the lights go up.
He does love mysis shrimp however.

coast2coast7390 · #7 09/22/2007, 04:35 PM

personally i think that firefish do better in groups

JESUS VILLASEÑO · #8 09/22/2007, 04:53 PM

firefish do not tolerate the company of oanother of the same genus, so i do not recommend mixing them, that kind of behavior is quite normal so do not worry.

slapshot16 · #9 09/22/2007, 07:15 PM

Your amonia should be 0. Keep an eye on that. You may be having a mini cycle. Mine hides often by loves to eat flakes and frozen mysis.

Noah_Count · #10 09/22/2007, 08:25 PM

Make sure you have a good cover on your tank. A firefish will launch itself to it's doom . I had one once in a 29 gallon and it disappeared. I looked all over for it and months later when tearing the aquarium down I found it's shriveled body behind the stand.

coast2coast7390 · #11 09/22/2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESUS VILLASEÑO
firefish do not tolerate the company of oanother of the same genus, so i do not recommend mixing them, that kind of behavior is quite normal so do not worry.

i guesss mine are the exception

Piscator · #12 09/22/2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Drock169
Just got a Firefish/fire goby the other day. He seems to be really happy during the day but at night he hides in a cervices and goes sideways. I dont know too much about the nighttime habits of gobies, but is this normal or should I be concerned? Water parameters are normal, ammonia spiked up to 0.1 but is dropping. Generally I worry when I see things sideways. Any input is appreciated thanks

Do you know what caused the ammonia spike? I would just keep an eye on your water params. I've had some fish do the sideways thing for a few days...had me concerned too...but then they just snapped out of it. Some experts recommend keeping these in pairs or more, but they can be kept alone too, especially in a smaller system.

Hope your friend pulls through.

-Jason

blackheart · #13 09/22/2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESUS VILLASEÑO
firefish do not tolerate the company of oanother of the same genus, so i do not recommend mixing them, that kind of behavior is quite normal so do not worry.

everything you need to know.

Drock169 · #14 09/22/2007, 10:03 PM

he seems to be doing alright, I only have a 14g BC and its more like 8 G with all the LR in it, so I'm pretty limited to the amount of fish that will be in there. There will probably be a clownfish in there in a couple weeks and then it will probably done, maybe a porcelain crab in the future. I'll keep monitoring him as he still likes to hide sideways. His belly is pretty round so hes eating pretty well.
Thanks for all the input everyone

seastar12 · #15 09/22/2007, 10:36 PM

If it's eating, good, I think he will be fine.

Dr Begalke · #16 09/22/2007, 11:15 PM

i have kept multiple firefish, both of the same species and different species, together without any problems. firefish normally hide in the rocks at night, when they are scared, etc.

tmz · #17 09/23/2007, 12:34 AM

Hiding and having a bolt hole to run to is normal mine all have done this.brine shrimp alone won't provide enough nutrition long term. I have kept one purple firefish(nemateleotris decora)and one firefish(nemateleotris magnifica) in a 90gallon with no trouble. Indeed these two actually slept together. I know the write ups say differently but this is the experience.
I currently have one of each in a 90gal reef. They ahve been there for over a year without any aggression. They each ahve their own bolt hole.