Firefish help

[Marinefreak]

Wasn't sure were to put this.

I'm farely new to reef keeping, I've had a BC12 for 5 months, and just switched to a 90ga long. I plan on getting a male for my female Percual clown, and a male/female for my firefish. Now, I said male/female for the firefish, because I don't know if it is male or female. Is there any way that you can tell the difference? or should I just sell it and get a mated pair?

Thanks.

[Minh Nguyen]

You cannot tell them apart. Many people like to keep firefish in small group but IME they should be keep in pair or single. Unless you have a pair, they will chase each other and one will die jumping out of the tank.
How do you get a pair? Just trial and error. Remove one that is fighting and add another one. I also experience firefish live well together as Juvenile but start to fight when they mature.

[Ninong]

Hi Marinefreak,

I plan on getting a male for my female Percula clown

Just get a juvenile tank-bred Percula clown that is smaller than your present one and it will turn out to be male. They're protandrous hermaphrodites, so they all progress from juvenile to male before they can become female. However, once female, they cannot revert back. Your only mistake would be to try to pair up two females. That won't work. As long as you get a juvenile to go with your current female, you will be just fine.

...and a male/female for my firefish. Now, I said male/female for the firefish, because I don't know if it is male or female. Is there any way that you can tell the difference? or should I just sell it and get a mated pair?

There is no sexual dimorphism in this genus (Nemateleotris). The only way you can tell would be to catch the female in the act of depositing eggs. Of course, if you had a very good camera and were able to take very good photos, you might be able to distinguish a female that is heavy with eggs and about to lay them. Or you might be able to photograph a distended ovipositor.

As Minh has already pointed out, it's a matter of trial and error unless you can find a vendor selling mated pairs. And don't forget that these guys are jumpers.

Good luck!

[Minh Nguyen]

You can have the LFS put these fish together and get a pair for you. However, I got two that live together in my 450 g tank for 6 months. They even sleep together. One day, they start to fight. On end up in the sump for three times before I bring him/her back to the LFS to get another one.

[almostdiva]

I bought my two together at the LFS, they were in a tank with like 8 or 9 and these two seemed to swim together alot. Turns out they have paired up. I've had them about 18 months. My previous attempt at setting up a pair wasn't as successful -- they both lived in the 55g, but if the 1 "invaded" the other's space, he/she would get chased. it's trial and error as Ninong and Minh have both said. Good Luck!

rebecca