Fighting Fire Fish~Oh my!

[MizTanks]

For almost a year now my 2 firefish have been living in perfect harmony. However for the last week they've begun to tear the crap out of each other. Both of their top fins are now stubs. It started when I introduced a new type of copepods. They used to hide all the time, now they're out all the time just hanging in the higher flow area. Is this food aggression?

[jimsflies]

From my understanding it is tough to keep multiples in small tanks long term. I doubt they will stop fighting at this point.

[Chris]

Yeah as Jim said, unfortunately unless they are a mated pair they don't normally fair well in multiples in smaller tanks. It can be done but it seems their time has come and for whatever reason (sexual maturity, new food source they want to fight over, new fish has pushed them out into the open, who knows....) they do not wish to co-exist. If the aggression doesn't go away soon (since its been a week already odds are it probably won't) I would suggest attempting to remove one, or they will continue to fight which could lead to losing both fish.

They probably were fine with eachother because they hid so much, or were hiding because they had aggression that you didn't notice before. I would suspect that the new food type is attractive to them causing them to be in the open more resulting in them seeing each other more and heightening their aggression to a more noticeable level.

[MizTanks]

OMG! How in the &%$# am I gonna get 1 Fire fish outta my tank? Guess I can only hope that 1 jumps for it whilst I'm sitting here. Otherwise it's a lost cause

[Chris]

You could try a fish trap.

[Chris]

Any luck with these guys chillin out, or getting one out yet?

[MizTanks]

Not chillin at all. 1 is now hanging out in the open all the time-even with the moon lights on he got totally booted out of his cave. Not a chance of using a fish trap with these two. Really bums me out. They were inseparable for so long and now this. But they are both eating good, no fighting then. Weird!


There's nothing like being a Reefer!

[Chris]

You could always try your hand at fishing..... small lure small bait remove the barb on the hook and hope ya get one ya want (aka be fast if a non-firefish trys taking a hit)! Otherwise don't be surprised if you end up with a atleast one dead one (hopefully they don't get to the point the injuries do them both in).

Hopefully they will work it out, unfortunately it isn't likely.

[MizTanks]

Hey maybe Jim will send me one of his flys!! Lmao


There's nothing like being a Reefer!

[MizTanks]

Update: Well they seemed to have settled their differences No longer going at each other like they once were. Now it's more of a kiss here and a kiss there, but no more fin ripping. My tank is peaceful once again!