Hiding or Dead Helfrich

[LCN]

Picked up a nice healthy helfrich about 1 week ago and it was swimming and eating freely the first days. The next 2 days I would see it hiding in its hole and only come out for food. The past 2 days no sign of the Helfrich even when feeding.
I know they are known to hide, but what are the chances he is still alive?

[snorvich]

Alive, yes, but probably intimidated. What other fish are in this tank?

[LCN]

anthias, yellow tang, regal angel, damsel, and mystery wrasse (he never bother him once).

[snorvich]

Well, in order of probability: damsel, mystery wrasse. Although you have not seen the mystery wrasse harass, there is a pretty good chance; it can be mean. Wrasses and firefish often result in the firefish being intimidated to the point of starvation.

[tewkes]

If he's alive still you might want to find him and remove him. He may be intimidated to the point where he won't eat.

I was just thinking about getting a helfrichi firefish today. I had a normal firefish in my nano and it was a very cool fish but it hid a lot of the time.

[agreeive?fish]

If you have a sump check there,thats where i found mine(red one)
check all around the tank they like to carpet surf
the damsel,wrasse,tang, or angel could be scarying the pants off the firefish
(i cant speak of the anthias because i have never had one)

once i moved mine to a diffrent tank he was out and about from lights on to lights out and eats like a pig

[yellowslayer13]

I found my Helfrich in the over flow of my 72 gallon.

[tigerarmy40]

second on checking the carpet, is it an open top tank?

[snorvich]

Oh, I forgot to ask about if it is closed. Yes, they DO jump. There is no IF about it, it is WHEN. Checking overflows is a great idea as is the floor around the tank.

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I had a friend who did not see his for 6 months! Added a purple and now they come out together.... he thought the helfrich was dead :)

So, it is hard to say! Def cover the tank

http://www.watergarden.org/s.nl/it.A/id.152/.f?sc=2&category=43357

That is the link to the netting some suggest!

[LCN]

Its an open tank. I have been checking daily on the floor. Still nothing. Going to give it a few more days before I decide what to do. Thanks everyone.

[Slakker]

That's an awfully expensive jumper to put in an open tank... :(

[snorvich]

I agree. I have LOTS of jumpers but my tanks are covered; I hear them bouncing off periodically.