Red Firefish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific, Maldives, Coral Sea
• Family: Gobiidae   • Species: Dartfish   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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The Red Firefish is a small species of reef fish that is found darting in and out of crevices and caves within coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, Maldives and Coral Sea. In the wild, the Red Firefish is usually found in small groups hovering over and around coral reefs feeding on planktonic and other small food organisms that drift by in the current.

This species has been a very popular aquarium species for decades, as it is well suited for aquarium life and has proven itself a very hardy aquarium species. The combination of its unique body shape, bright red coloration, size and its ease of care has made the Red Firefish popular with reef, nano reef and community aquarium keepers. Red Firefish are considered a very peaceful species that does well with others of its own kind and with other fish species of similar disposition.

It is best to try and replicate a fish species natural environment within the aquarium as much as possible, as this will greatly increase the hobbyist’s success with a given species. The Red Firefish will greatly appreciate the presence of plenty of mature live rock that it can swim near while it hunts for small meaty items within the water column. Red Firefish typically stays in the middle regions of an aquarium swimming in and near rocky caves and crevices. Ideally the Red Firefish should be kept as a pair or in medium sized groups (5 to 8 specimens), and with other peaceful fish species.

Mated pairs of Red Firefish will often dig burrows in the substrate or utilize small crevices in the rock as a home that the pair will share. This species is also known for being easily startled and jumpy, so caution should be taken if this species is to be kept in an open top aquarium. Slowly approaching the aquarium and have the lighting turn on and off gradually will help reduce the chances of the Red Firefish jumping from the aquarium.

In the wild the Red Firefish consumes mostly copepods, plankton, zooplankton and crustacean larvae. However, in the aquarium environment they will do well with a varied diet of vitamin enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and freeze-dried or frozen meaty marine preparations.