30 gallon aggressive stock list ideas?

[reeferfoxx]

Originally my 30 gallon stock list was going to consist of

• 2 Oci. Clownfish
• Hi-fin goby and shrimp pair
• Helfrechi Firefish
• Royal Gramma
• Tanaka's Pygmy Wrasse

Unfortunately, that changed today. I was missing my firefish for the last two days. I decided to get my arms wet and lift out the rocks. To my surprise, in the shrimp and goby cave, was my dead and mostly eaten Helfrechi firefish :( Slightly expensive meal. Well, I could honestly careless about that pairs fate. Those two have me mad. Anyway, i'm kinda on the darkside this time around. Since the firefish is gone, my new stock list looks something like this...

• 2 Oci. Clownfish
• Hi-fin goby and point of sale shrimp pair
• Royal Gramma
• Ocellate Damselfish
  
• Purple Stripe Dottyback

Any other ideas give or take? Let me know!

 

[eatbreakfast]

It is highly unlikely that the goby and shrimp were the cause of death for the firefish, though taking advantage of an already dead fish for a meal is possible.

A 30g is not a lot of space for territorial fish. I would recommend doing all 3 of the gramma, damsel, and dottyback. Pick 2 and add them simultaneously.

 

[reeferfoxx]

It is highly unlikely that the goby and shrimp were the cause of death for the firefish, though taking advantage of an already dead fish for a meal is possible.

I beg to differ on the shrimp. The firefish was always skittish. I had this firefish housed with the shrimp and goby for about a year and a half. Sometimes however, the firefish would accidentally try to hide in the shrimp and goby cave. This happened a couple times without issues. About 6 months ago the firefish about lost his eye to a nasty snap from the shrimp. This pistol shrimp aggression is no secret in the reefing world, so im surprised you would think that thats not possible. In fact there are several references and threads discussing this very issue with stories to this actually happening? Could you show some reference to your facts on that not being possible? I would like to hear how the shrimp won't defend itself?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I beg to differ on the shrimp. The firefish was always skittish. I had this firefish housed with the shrimp and goby for about a year and a half. Sometimes however, the firefish would accidentally try to hide in the shrimp and goby cave. This happened a couple times without issues. About 6 months ago the firefish about lost his eye to a nasty snap from the shrimp. This pistol shrimp aggression is no secret in the reefing world, so im surprised you would think that thats not possible. In fact there are several references and threads discussing this very issue with stories to this actually happening? Could you show some reference to your facts on that not being possible? I would like to hear how the shrimp won't defend itself?

Experience is my reference for this. On many occasions, in my own tank and tanks I take care of, I have kept watchman gobies and pistol shrimp with firefish and dartfish, and the firefish and sartfish were always allowed in the burrow, always. Having firsthand witnessed this, not just a few times, but 20+ times, yet seen fish killed by hitchhikers or have just died on their own, my money is on the pistol shrimp being falsely accused.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Experience is my reference for this. On many occasions, in my own tank and tanks I take care of, I have kept watchman gobies and pistol shrimp with firefish and dartfish, and the firefish and sartfish were always allowed in the burrow, always. Having firsthand witnessed this, not just a few times, but 20+ times, yet seen fish killed by hitchhikers or have just died on their own, my money is on the pistol shrimp being falsely accused.

Get a nano tank and it could possibly happen to you, also.

I knew that this would be a risk in the beginning, so I always made sure the firefish had a home. The firefish always ate twice a day. There were no other indications that the firefish was on his way out. Since I know for a fact that the pistol shrimp damaged his left eye before, like i said, it's no surprise to me that the shrimp killed the firefish. We could say the shrimp snapped to stun the fish out of natural defense, and the firefish died. Either way, cause and effect says it was the pistol shrimps claw that caused the death.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Get a nano tank and it could possibly happen to you, also.

I knew that this would be a risk in the beginning, so I always made sure the firefish had a home. The firefish always ate twice a day. There were no other indications that the firefish was on his way out. Since I know for a fact that the pistol shrimp damaged his left eye before, like i said, it's no surprise to me that the shrimp killed the firefish. We could say the shrimp snapped to stun the fish out of natural defense, and the firefish died. Either way, cause and effect says it was the pistol shrimps claw that caused the death.

I've had them in tanks smaller than that without issue.

I will not be able to convince you otherwise from what you believed to have had happen.

Firefish using an occupied pistol shrimp burrow is well documented in aquaria, just google "firefish pistol shrimp burrow" and there a bunch of instances that come up. It is also documented in the wild, and all though not beneficial to the shrimp, the firefish and dartfish are tolerated.

Pistols can, when agitated, behave aggressively to an otherwise non threatening fish, but in these circumstances they can even turn on the watchman they have paired up with.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've had them in tanks smaller than that without issue.

I will not be able to convince you otherwise from what you believed to have had happen.

It's not about being convinced here. This thread isn't even about that situation. I'm not the type to not listen because it's not what I want to hear.
In fact I believe it to be the other way around. If you had asked me 6 months ago, "do you think a pistol shrimp would be fine with firefish?" I would have totally made that recommendation with the added, "i've never experienced anything negative". With all that said, I believe that pistol shrimp can be startled and can use that claw for defense in those situations. These fish were fine in a 20 gallon prior to the 30 gallon. This 30 gallon is all dry rock, no hitchhikers. There is no other reason this would have happened, otherwise.

Back to stocking an aggressive tank. I will definitely take your first suggestion ;

A 30g is not a lot of space for territorial fish. I would recommend doing all 3 of the gramma, damsel, and dottyback. Pick 2 and add them simultaneously.

As this advice makes sense to me. Thank you :)

 

[Surfandturf]

I'm thinking that the fish owed the shrimp a large amount of money. The shrimp sent the goby to rough him up, but the goby got carried away and this is the end result. Pretty solid theory? I feel like Ace Ventura on this one.