Firefish .... This is weird

Ive had 2 paired firefish for 5 months. They do their little "pairing" dance and are always happy and healthy. The larger of the 2 dissappeared for the past 2 days ...while the other continued normal swimming/ eating habits. Today, the missing firefish appeared, swimming, eating, normal behavior, aside of extremely rapid breathing. I did a waterchange a week ago. I always check new h2o params before changing. They were spot on, as they were a day later, 3 days ago, and tonight. (Overkill, but I check 2-4X weekly) Surface agitation is good, a/g exchange is good ...ph is on point ....all inhabitants extremely friendly with one another ....its Mr Rogers Neighborhood in there. PERPLEXING .....any ideas??

I can attach a short but clear video, but I havent figured out how to do it ....Ill try while I await your replies. Thanks in advance.

 

Do you have any ich in the tank? Ich can infect the gills causing rapid breathing, but no visible spots.

 

Good point kc, but Ive never had ich in this tank ....nothing new added (other than the h2o change, which I do, 25-30% every other week). Perhaps I should buy something to treat the tank just in case ....what do you think?

 

Don't treat unless you have proof. Sometimes they will breath rapidly hopefully it settles down.

 

my red firefish recently starting hiding most of the day. i always bragged about how it and the purple got along so well (have had them both for about 6 months. although i have never seen them fight, i think they may be getting into it.

 

my 2 are stuck side by side again, now that he came back out. Its funny to see their "compatibility/ mating" dance ...even though hes still breathing heavily, they were back at their dance and stuck to eachother. I hope he makes it ....one would be lost without the other.

 

I woke up and approached the tank ....morning routine. My yellow sebae nem ....who will not attach after 2 weeks, still found enough of an appetite to eat my firefish that died through the night. funny thing is, the nem is loosely surrounded my small peices of LR since he wouldnt attach. its almost as if the dying firefish decided to die to the benefit of another living thing.

My remaining firefish is lonely as they were paired. He has an appetite so far .... =(

 

So sorry to hear about your loss