Fin rot or harassment?

[Austin Weinerman]

I have had my firefish for about 2 and a half weeks. After I brought him home, I noticed his fins looked shaggy. The other firefish that I bought at the same time has perfect fins. Occasionally I see the other one go after this firefish, so I am thinking it might be harassment, but I wanted to see if anyone thinks it may be fin rot. All levels in my tank are normal and the two fish and shrimp are eating and swimming normally.

 

[Maritimer]

Unless the two firefish are a true bonded pair, they're probably not going to get along together, long-term - and sometimes, not even then.

A pair will usually hang together, and can sometimes be seen (especially in a LFS tank full of firefish) to be defending their space against others.

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

Looks like bites taken out of the tail fin to me.

 

[Austin Weinerman]

Unless the two firefish are a true bonded pair, they're probably not going to get along together, long-term - and sometimes, not even then.

A pair will usually hang together, and can sometimes be seen (especially in a LFS tank full of firefish) to be defending their space against others.

~Bruce

Oh wow, I didn't know the two firefish had to be bonded. The tank they were in at the store had about 10+ firefish all together and I just picked the 2 that I wanted. Too bad, looks like I'll have to donate one of them to the LFS. Thanks for your response.