Purple Firefish not doing well

[Nano101]

Ok, so no, I did not quarantine this fish (I know, I know), but I have a purple firefish that I bought from my closest reef store that is just chilling vertically in a corner for the last week. I keep expecting to find him dead. He was great at the store (same place I get all my fish and corals). I have no aggressive fish (a clumsy clown and bicolor blenny). There are a lot of hiding places, but he won't come out from behind the powerhead. I've tried turning off all waterflow for hours, trying to entice him to come out. I don't know if he is eating. I leave the whole system off for two hours during feeding to try to make sure he might eat something (Rod's food). Parameters are all in check and everything else looks awesome in the tank. Help?!

 

[Diesel]

Is that the only fish in your tank?
Thinking it might be a acclimation issue, just different water than your LFS.
Try to move him away from the corner to some rocks or what.
Can you post a pic from fish and a FTS?

 

[Nano101]

two other other fish in tank purchased from same LFS, they adapted nicely. My lights aren't ramped up enough yet to take a pic. Will later today

 

[Nano101]

He was great at the store (same place I get all my fish and corals). I have no aggressive fish (a clumsy clown and bicolor blenny). There are a lot of hiding places, but he won't come out from behind the powerhead.

 

[Nano101]

I really need a quarantine tank :(

 

[Duke4Life]

I really need a quarantine tank :(

+1 it's an invaluable expense

 

[Nano101]

+1 it's an invaluable expense

a 5-10 gallon with a HOB filter and heater would do the trick

 

[Duke4Life]

a 5-10 gallon with a HOB filter and heater would do the trick

Yes I'd go 10g between the 2 though.

 

[Nano101]

Not a great pic, but he is quite wedged

 

[Nano101]

no signs of ich or parasites

 

[Diesel]

How about a FTS?
Not breathing rapidly or twitching?

 

[Nano101]

Now I feel stupid. What is FTS?

 

[Diesel]

Now I feel stupid. What is FTS?

LOL, dw we all have that by times but it a term we through in here years ago "Full Tank Shot"

 

[eatbreakfast]

The firefish is exhibiting scared behavior. What size is the display? The clown and blenny usually aren't too aggressive, but can definitely be bullies to a new firefish.

 

[Nano101]

FTS won't show fish, but here you go. 3 days ago

 

[Nano101]

The firefish is exhibiting scared behavior. What size is the display? The clown and blenny usually aren't too aggressive, but can definitely be bullies to a new firefish.

Both fish haven't wandered near the firefish. The blenny enjoys his holes in the LR and the clown just swims around like a doofus.

 

[Nano101]

The firefish is exhibiting scared behavior. What size is the display? The clown and blenny usually aren't too aggressive, but can definitely be bullies to a new firefish.

sorry, 12 gallon tank with lots of hiding spots. I even turn off all waterflow a few hours a day to encourage him to come out

 

[Diesel]

Thanks!
I'm afraid now looking at your FTS that the tank could be not big enough for all the fish you have as @eatbreakfast already mentioned about the clowns can be tough in a small tank.
I know you got only three that shouldn't be the problem but the clown will during the day protect his domain and I'm afraid that the whole tank is his domain.
Set your lights on a schedule that you can observe the tank while home that means during the day it's dark.
Fish and corals have no clue they just go by the lights go on at some point no matter what time.

 

[Nano101]

The firefish seemed very healthy at the LFS at I saw him eat and interact with a number of fish. The firefish was drip acclimated, became very sporadic, and has been hiding since

 

[Nano101]

Thanks!
I'm afraid now looking at your FTS that the tank could be not big enough for all the fish you have.
I know you got only three that shouldn't be the problem but the clown will during the day protect his domain and I'm afraid that the whole tank is his domain.
Set your lights on a schedule that you can observe the tank while home that means during the day it's dark.
Fish and corals have no clue they just go by the lights go on at some point no matter what time.

I bought each fish separately over a period of 4 weeks. This clown is really territorial. I have seen mean clowns, this one is just a swimming happy clown that seems to have no interests in other fish. He doesn't wander near the firefish and is quite active in the tank. But yeah, maybe the firefish is scared of the clown. The blenny is so chill and spends most of his time holes, occoasionally scoots around to another hole. The blenny is truly a fun fish to watch.