Firefish getting bullied

vinnyvin · Mar 23, 2017

Hi all.
I have just purchased a firefish can i just say i have fallen in love with this fish from the moment I set eyes on it. Just never got round to getting one untill today.
My problem is my cleaner wrasse just seems to be bullying it. Iv observed to see if the wrasse is just wanting to clean him but it seems a little too aggressive for that type of behaviour can anyone tell me if these two fish are not compatable and if so what can I do to prevent this?
I like both fish and if I have to take one back for trade it will be the wrasse.
Thanks.

jd371 · Mar 23, 2017

Is the Firefish hiding because of this? If it was being harassed it would be hiding all the time. I have a Flasher Wrasse that likes to flash my Clowns and Firefish and I thought it was aggression at first.

Tahoe61 · Mar 23, 2017

The cleaner wrasse has a similar shape as the fire fish so it very well could be aggression.

Fire fish are one of the more sensitive fish to acclimate, typically shy and passive, so you might have to intervene to save the fire fish.

You could try taping a mirror to the side of the tank to distract the wrassse.

vinnyvin · Mar 23, 2017

jd371 said:
Is the Firefish hiding because of this? If it was being harassed it would be hiding all the time. I have a Flasher Wrasse that likes to flash my Clowns and Firefish and I thought it was aggression at first.

Yeah it looks like it. it's tucked itself between the rocks and the glass doesn't seem to want to come out i have put some food it and it's catching food through the flow but isn't coming out to feed.

vinnyvin · Mar 23, 2017

Tahoe61 said:
The cleaner wrasse has a similar shape as the fire fish so it very well be aggression.

Fire fish are one of the more sensitive fish to acclimate, typically shy and passive, so you might have to intervene to save the fire fish.

You could try taping a mirror to the side of the tank to distract the wrassse.

Il il give it the 24 hours and see how they are in the morning if nothing changed I will try the mirror method. If thats a fail looks like im gonna have to trade the wrasse. It's a shame because I like the wrasse [emoji17]

vinnyvin · Mar 24, 2017

So looks like iv had to sin bin the little guy. Firefish was found in the same spot this morning. He seems to be having a little nosy around now this guy is out.

ahiggins · Mar 24, 2017

Thats unfortunate.
firefish and cardinals have been the two that I just cannot keep. Theyre so sensitive

Maybe if theyre added first and given a ton of time to establish their territory, it could be ok.

vinnyvin · Mar 24, 2017

This is not the first time. this has happened to me before with a little yellow tailed wrasse, cant remeber its name and I added him n he was the one getting bullied. Looks like im gonna stay away from the wrasse family. It's a shame because they are very nice fish.

Yeah suppose adding certain fish at different times should make a difference.