Purple FireFish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Family: Gobiidae   • Species: Dartfish   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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Firefish can usually be found over hard, open bottoms and rubble patches at the base of the reef. The stay near the rocks so they can dart in the small holes and crevices when threatened. In the wild the firefish feeds on zoo plankton. Nemateleotris magnifica has a tendency to twitch its long dorsal fin back and forth.

Nemateleotris magnifica or the Red Firefish is the most common Firefish species found within the aquarium hobby, with the Purple firefish, Nemateleotris also available for sale at online retailers and local fish stores that specialize in marine live stock. Nemateleotris Helfrichi or Helfrichs firefish on the other hand are much more rare in the aquarium trade and commands a much higher price tag when it can be found.

Firefish are very elegant fish, who have a long slender body and single raised fin just behind the head. The forward region of the body is white while the hind region will very depending on each species of firefish you have. The regular firefish (Nemateloetris magnifica) has a orange to red colored hind region while the purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora) has a purple hind region. HelFrichs (Nemateleotris helfrichi) have a yellow head with a sharp contrasting purple body. The regular firefishes single raised fin is significantly longer then both the Purple Firefish and Helfrichs firefishes fin.

Firefish are peaceful fish that usually inhabit the middle level of the tank unlike other Gobies. They have a specialized swim bladders that allows them to float in one place without much effort. Firefish as a group tend to be very shy and should be supplied with many dark cave that they can duck into when they feel threatened. Firefish, like most other Gobies should also be kept in pairs. Also the should be kept in covered tanks as they are know to be jumpers.

Firefish are shy feeders that will usually accept flake food, brine shrimp and just about anything else that drifts by their little hideout. However they will not feed from the bottom of the tank. In the wild they feed on plankton, fish larvae, and small crustaceans.