Should I get a firefish?

[Fishy]

My "12 gallon nano cube" has one fish in it, a regular Ocellaris clownfish. He's been in there two weeks now. The day I got him, I got a black and white version too, for $50. Six days later, the regular one finished off the fancy one after slamming him one too many times. I had been told that two young Ocellaris added at the same time would get along. These two were from two different stores but both were the smallest in the tank. Anyway, I obviously can only have the one clownfish but I do have room for another fish.

I originally had wanted a firefish. Should I get one? I have two concerns. Will the clownfish beat him up too? Again, books and the internet say those two species are compatible but are they really (they also said two clownfish would be too). Second, of my two surviving corals, one has a little feather duster worm on it. His tube is many 1 cm, and his plumes have been getting bigger. The clownfish and 5 hermit crabs haven't bothered him. Would a firefish eat him? If so, do I just stick with one fish or is there another species I can try? I don't want the little feather duster to die but the tank is pretty boring as far as things moving around with just the one nasty clownfish.

Thanks!

 

[TimSchmidt]

I don't think you will have any problems. I wouldn't put anymore fish in that tank besides those two personally, but you should have any problems with inverts or corals.

 

[Fishy]

Well, I got the firefish two days ago. I was worried for nothing! Not only doesn't Nemo bother Jose the firefish but they seem to like each other! Both only want to do one thing - eat! They beg all the time for more food! Then, when I put it in, they don't get most of it because neither will eat floating food or food once it's on the ground. It's got to "swim" past them. The feather duster is still fine too.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Very cool!

 

[mrdanielbrown]

Firefish get along with almost everything. Clowns are typically only aggressive with "threatening" fish. I agree, I wouldn't put anymore fish in. Two should be perfect for the tank size you have.

FYI, be careful... sometimes the unexpected happen. I will never forget buying a crab and shrimp for the same tank at the LFS and as soon as I released them into my tank the crab ate the shrimp! I was "upset" because I also read a little and the two species of crab and shrimp were supposed to be compatible. Bottomline, you just never know - but you can reduce the chance of something going wrong by studying up before hand.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Very true. These are all only generalizations. Just like saying if you stuck an IT person and a psychologist in one room that they will always fight. (Smile, life is short - that was meant as a bad joke, not to offend IT people or psychologists)

 

[Fishy]

Nemo and Jose are still fine and get along. A few weeks ago, Jose did get a tear in his tail fin; I'm not sure if Nemo did it. I don't plan to get any more fish. My tank is now fully stocked with fish, snails, and crabs. I just have to add a few more corals in time. I'm afraid to get a shrimp because I have five darling feather duster worms with my two zooanthid colonies. One is a larger one. I've read shrimp will eat the feather dusters. I already took out a mithrax crab that the store guy convinced me was great because he wouldn't get off the star polyps (and he looked shady!). He's in a 3 gallon Eclipse tank all alone. I plan to get some live rock and fake corals for that tiny tank but can't really put anything else in there. I comes with a tiny 8 W light that can't be upgraded.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Nice! Any photos?

 

[Fishy]

I haven't been able to process the photos from the last few weeks but there are older photos on my site. See http://www.fishpondinfo.com/marine/reefphotos.htm
The old photos aren't very good (either as far as my photography skills or what's in them). The tank looks a lot better now but no photos are up yet of my six new corals which are doing well.