Hi yall! Not new here but don’t often post, just kinda stalk… and I totally understand there’s plenty of posts similar to this one so I apologize!
I added a firefish this weekend to my tank along with a cleaner shrimp and I haven’t seen the poor dude since the first night. I drip acclimated with the lights off and separate and then put the shrimp in first with no problem. He’s been out and about ever since and doing great. Within 5 seconds of me adding in the firefish, he took a quick lap around the tank and jetted out on the dresser the tank is on, all before I could get the lid back on. I quickly scooped him up and got him back in the tank and he seemed fine the rest of the night. Interacted well with my clowns, breathing perfectly fine, no visible injuries, and even ate a bit of mysis. Once the lights went out he settled in a small cave and I haven’t seen him since.
Some other tank info that’s worth adding, the other only tank mates are a pair of clowns around a year old I transferred from my old Fluval Evo that are completly peaceful and just a couple years old(pretty small ≈1.5in), a peppermint shrimp, and the cleaner shrimp. I shut down my evo and upgraded to the IM lagoon 25 a couple months ago, it’s jam packed with corals and macros, and has ≈30 lbs of live rock an sand (some rocks I brought over from the evo). Corals, macros, and my anemones are thriving, honestly growing quicker than I planned for….
He has plenty of hiding space, plenty of copepods to feed on, no aggressive tank mates, and I have the tight fitted lid for the tank with the mesh top to prevent jumping.
I’ve also consistently been checking my overflow, carpet, and all surrounding areas to double check he hasn’t jumped.
My tank water has been very stable but also very clean, testing actually 0 nitrates so i’ve been trying to overfeed a little. (a mix of garlic covered pellets, mysis and brine shrimp) and I will make sure to shoot some right by his cave. I think that’s about everything I can think of, if yall have any other questions just ask.
If he doesn’t come out tonight that will be day 5 of not seeing him at all, 6 after acclimation. I totally get they are shy and skittish and people don’t see them for weeks at a time sometime, but I’m starting to overthink maybe he got hurt when he jumped and maybe settled and died in the rock? I figured some of the food would entice him and he would come out by now. Any other word to help this guy would be greatly appreciated, it kills me thinking he’s too scared and uncomfortable to come out, I think they are beautiful fish and I was planning on him being my centerpiece fish.
Also I wanted to add, I don’t post much but I’m very active on a ton of other reef forums ,communities from my lfs, talk to other reef keepers, and I wanted to thank you guys so much. Yall are always so welcoming and kind and offer so much help. I got in the hobby at the age of 9, and lord knows I’ve made so many mistakes over the years, but this place always seems to help!!
I added a firefish this weekend to my tank along with a cleaner shrimp and I haven’t seen the poor dude since the first night. I drip acclimated with the lights off and separate and then put the shrimp in first with no problem. He’s been out and about ever since and doing great. Within 5 seconds of me adding in the firefish, he took a quick lap around the tank and jetted out on the dresser the tank is on, all before I could get the lid back on. I quickly scooped him up and got him back in the tank and he seemed fine the rest of the night. Interacted well with my clowns, breathing perfectly fine, no visible injuries, and even ate a bit of mysis. Once the lights went out he settled in a small cave and I haven’t seen him since.
Some other tank info that’s worth adding, the other only tank mates are a pair of clowns around a year old I transferred from my old Fluval Evo that are completly peaceful and just a couple years old(pretty small ≈1.5in), a peppermint shrimp, and the cleaner shrimp. I shut down my evo and upgraded to the IM lagoon 25 a couple months ago, it’s jam packed with corals and macros, and has ≈30 lbs of live rock an sand (some rocks I brought over from the evo). Corals, macros, and my anemones are thriving, honestly growing quicker than I planned for….
He has plenty of hiding space, plenty of copepods to feed on, no aggressive tank mates, and I have the tight fitted lid for the tank with the mesh top to prevent jumping.
I’ve also consistently been checking my overflow, carpet, and all surrounding areas to double check he hasn’t jumped.
My tank water has been very stable but also very clean, testing actually 0 nitrates so i’ve been trying to overfeed a little. (a mix of garlic covered pellets, mysis and brine shrimp) and I will make sure to shoot some right by his cave. I think that’s about everything I can think of, if yall have any other questions just ask.
If he doesn’t come out tonight that will be day 5 of not seeing him at all, 6 after acclimation. I totally get they are shy and skittish and people don’t see them for weeks at a time sometime, but I’m starting to overthink maybe he got hurt when he jumped and maybe settled and died in the rock? I figured some of the food would entice him and he would come out by now. Any other word to help this guy would be greatly appreciated, it kills me thinking he’s too scared and uncomfortable to come out, I think they are beautiful fish and I was planning on him being my centerpiece fish.
Also I wanted to add, I don’t post much but I’m very active on a ton of other reef forums ,communities from my lfs, talk to other reef keepers, and I wanted to thank you guys so much. Yall are always so welcoming and kind and offer so much help. I got in the hobby at the age of 9, and lord knows I’ve made so many mistakes over the years, but this place always seems to help!!
