This is killing me.
I put a lot of thought into my next fish purchase. I only have a 10 gallon nano, but I wanted a spectacular fish with a lot of color. I already have a yellow clown goby, so I wanted something that really contrasted against the rest of the tank.
I decided on Red Firefish(Nemateleotris magnifica). I know most reefers here will not be too impressed with this fish, as most of them are well past the "dartfish stage". I however, really think the Red Firefish is one of the most elegant and beautiful fish out there. This was to be the final fish purchase for my little ten gallon.
I brought my beautiful fish home, drip acclimated him/her over about 30 mins, and dropped it in the tank. It looked beautiful. Perfectly happy, and immediately started looking for something to eat. I happily obliged by adding some brineshrimp/selcon to the tank which was eagerly gobbled up. I was happy.
I turned my back on the tank for 25 mins to go cook dinner, and when I came back, I found the fish on the floor dried up.
My heart was broken, I put the fish on the table next to the tank and ate my dinner quickly. About half way through, I had to go to the kitchen to get some pepper, on the way, I decided to throw the fish back into the tank and let the Sally Lightfoot chew on the dead fish for a while.
When I was done with dinner, i came back to the tank to scoop out what was left of the dead fish, and I was shocked! The half eaten firefish was thrashing around in the claws of the crab, fully alive trying to get away.
I was horrified. I immediately got the turkey baster and shot some water at the crab to make it let go. It was too late though...the firefish was missing all its pectoral fins and one eye. it couldn't stay upright in the water alothough it was swimming everywhere.
I felt terrible, i grabbed the fish and quickly dispatched it with a kitchen knife. It's suffering was over. I cut it into small pieces and fed it to the flower anemones and the crabs.
I wonder if I had just cradled it in my hands in the water for a few minutes, if it would have come back to normal again??? I never have had a fish jump out before...
I thought I had thought of everything, i guess I didn't think about a cover though. My carelessness caused a death.
I will start lookoing for some way to cover the tank now...
I put a lot of thought into my next fish purchase. I only have a 10 gallon nano, but I wanted a spectacular fish with a lot of color. I already have a yellow clown goby, so I wanted something that really contrasted against the rest of the tank.
I decided on Red Firefish(Nemateleotris magnifica). I know most reefers here will not be too impressed with this fish, as most of them are well past the "dartfish stage". I however, really think the Red Firefish is one of the most elegant and beautiful fish out there. This was to be the final fish purchase for my little ten gallon.
I brought my beautiful fish home, drip acclimated him/her over about 30 mins, and dropped it in the tank. It looked beautiful. Perfectly happy, and immediately started looking for something to eat. I happily obliged by adding some brineshrimp/selcon to the tank which was eagerly gobbled up. I was happy.
I turned my back on the tank for 25 mins to go cook dinner, and when I came back, I found the fish on the floor dried up.
My heart was broken, I put the fish on the table next to the tank and ate my dinner quickly. About half way through, I had to go to the kitchen to get some pepper, on the way, I decided to throw the fish back into the tank and let the Sally Lightfoot chew on the dead fish for a while.
When I was done with dinner, i came back to the tank to scoop out what was left of the dead fish, and I was shocked! The half eaten firefish was thrashing around in the claws of the crab, fully alive trying to get away.
I was horrified. I immediately got the turkey baster and shot some water at the crab to make it let go. It was too late though...the firefish was missing all its pectoral fins and one eye. it couldn't stay upright in the water alothough it was swimming everywhere.
I felt terrible, i grabbed the fish and quickly dispatched it with a kitchen knife. It's suffering was over. I cut it into small pieces and fed it to the flower anemones and the crabs.
I wonder if I had just cradled it in my hands in the water for a few minutes, if it would have come back to normal again??? I never have had a fish jump out before...
I thought I had thought of everything, i guess I didn't think about a cover though. My carelessness caused a death.
I will start lookoing for some way to cover the tank now...
