Multiple Firefish?

I've always been told the exact opposite. Firefish do well in small groups, atleast that's what i heard. Maybe you're thinking of filefish?

nvm, book says "best kept in male/female pairs".

I bought a second firefish on sunday and the one that was already in my tanki s attacking it everytime it comes out of its hiding spot. I also have read that they prefer to be in groups but from what i have seen so far i dont think so.

I've been told you can have schools of the Red Firefish but the Purple Firefish is the most territorial and aggressive member of the specie and should be kept alone

Does anyone know anything about keeping the Helfrich with the others of its species or closely related?

The one i have that is aggressive is a purple firefish

both the purple and the red can be kept in groups. you are trying to keep aggression on an individual or individuals down so you need to have more than one or two targets. i have seen both in groups of 5 and more in aquariums with ample room to swim and hide. if you are trying these in small tanks the group thing is a bad idea. pairs rarely work out unless they were a pair when you got them.

I have a pair of helfrichi now that I bought one and then about 6 weeks later I went back for the other one which was still there. When I reintroduced them they either recognized each other or contrary to belief they are social with each other. I wish I had a video of when they first got back together it was very cute. I have also introduced two red fire fish at the same time from a large group at an lfs to a 30g cube ( my last tank) they paired right up. Slept in the same hole and everything. I have heard that purples are very aggressive and need to be seperated. I have a purple in a 7.5g at work not sure if I want to try another or not in that small a tank.

Just added 4 reds to my tank about a week ago. Although they are still hiding (my "giant" purple tang makes sure of it) the are staying together and have shown no signs of aggression amongst each other. BTW they are in a 90 gallon tank so they have lots of room.

grreefkeeper said:

Just added 4 reds to my tank about a week ago. Although they are still hiding (my "giant" purple tang makes sure of it) the are staying together and have shown no signs of aggression amongst each other. BTW they are in a 90 gallon tank so they have lots of room.

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There's the key, add the group at the same time.

My tanks not that big, and I already have one normal Firefish and yellow Clown Goby in it.

I have two red firefish in the same 30 gallon tank and it seems as though they like each other at times but usually they are trying to nip at each others top fin. I've been considering getting rid of one of them but they aren't too easy to catch without tearing apart the tank. I wouldn't recommend keeping only two together unless they are a male/female pair.

I bought 2 firefish and the dominate one chased the other one around for about 2 months, not long after that the weak one got skinny and died. It was kinda hard to watch. If i did it again i would buy 4-5. How bid is your tank?

grreefkeeper said:

Just added 4 reds to my tank about a week ago. Although they are still hiding (my "giant" purple tang makes sure of it) the are staying together and have shown no signs of aggression amongst each other. BTW they are in a 90 gallon tank so they have lots of room.

Click to expand...

Think Ink said:

There's the key, add the group at the same time.

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or that they are to busy hiding from the purple tang to worry about chasing each other around.i have a feeling once they settle in there may be some bickering amongst them.

My tank is only a 15 gallon. It's to late to add another firefish now. I really want to get one more fish to finish it off.