Firefish Goby

The Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica), also known as the Fire Dartfish, is a vibrant and peaceful addition to marine aquariums, celebrated for its striking coloration and graceful swimming behavior.

Quick Stats:

• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Color Form: White anterior, transitioning to a red-orange posterior, with a yellow head
• Diet: Carnivore
• Reef Compatible: Yes
• Water Conditions:
  • Specific Gravity: 1.020–1.025
  • Temperature: 72–80°F
  • dKH: 8–12
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
• Maximum Size: 3 inches
• Family: Gobiidae
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons

Overview: The Firefish Goby is renowned for its elongated body and vivid coloration, featuring a white front half that transitions into a red-orange rear, complemented by a bright yellow head. Its peaceful nature and modest size make it an excellent choice for reef and community aquariums. In the wild, this species inhabits coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region, often found hovering near the bottom, facing into the current to catch planktonic prey.

Care Tips:

• Tank Setup: A well-established aquarium with ample live rock provides necessary hiding spots and perches. Ensure a secure lid, as Firefish Gobies are known to jump when startled.
• Feeding: Offer a varied diet of small meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. Feeding twice daily supports their active metabolism.
• Compatibility: Generally peaceful, they coexist well with other non-aggressive fish. However, they may become territorial with conspecifics unless kept as a mated pair.

Fun Fact: The Firefish Goby is known for its darting movements and can quickly retreat into rock crevices when threatened, using its elongated dorsal fin as a signal to conspecifics.

By providing appropriate tank conditions and a suitable diet, the Firefish Goby can be a vibrant and resilient addition to your marine aquarium.