Purple Firefish question

[christyf5]

I had two of the red firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica). They got along fine while they were juveniles (I guess). I had them both for about a year and then noticed that one was substantially bigger than the other and would constantly chase the smaller one into hiding. I was getting worried as the little one couldn't even come out to eat. I had to feed at one end of the tank and then while the feeding frenzy carried on, I would spot feed the little firefish at the other end of the tank. Eventually the larger firefish succumbed to a dinoflagellate bloom in the water column (as did a few other fish ). The little firefish survived and never got any bigger but he certainly came out more after that. I was tempted to add another but if the same bullying was going to happen it just wasn't worth it. I had the little firefish for a total of 3 years before he jumped in June.

Everything I've read on these guys indicates that groups are best when the fish are juveniles. I guess they feel more comfortable in larger numbers. However, if they don't pair off as they get older the larger ones will kill the smaller ones until there is one firefish left (unless you have a giant tank with lots of hiding spots maybe).

Christy