Firefish Care and Breeding Guide

The Firefish was first noticed in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean’s waters. In their wild natural habitat this fish is usually spotted in set with other fishes from its kind trying to hover aloft the shore; hiding in caves or similar hiding areas while eating planktons. You can find this fish being called on as the Firefish Goby or Fire Goby and because of its magnificent appearance, some call it the Magnificent Dartfish. Its scientific name is Nemateleotris magnificus, coming from the Microdesmidae family.

Appearance of the Firefish

This species are very attractive amongst educated fish keepers and fish lovers. It is a splendid fish with impressive coloration and exceptional personality. The Firefish is quite long and lean. Half of its face is white, the other half yellow, whereas all of its fins are black. Its first dorsal is so long, it can achieve the exact same size of the entire fish. It uses its dorsal fin as a “clamp” witch allows it the ability to hold itself tight onto a fissure or anywhere in particular that the Firefish would want to stay for a while. With its swimming bladder, it can float in a particular location for longer periods.

There are not big differences between the sexes except that the females are slimmer and smaller.

Aquarium Setup

The Firefishes active temperament requires at least a 29 gallon aquarium tank and a massive flow of water, so they can have the freedom to move without any obstacles that may injure them. The fish keepers often suffer losses from Firefish that bounce out of the fish tank, that’s why any aquarium with these fish in it must be covered.  Another reason for losing the Firefish is housing it in with the wrong tank mates. After an attack, even if the Firesfish doesn’t die, it will suffer a lot from massive stress and both internal and external damage from the predation of the other aggressive species in the fish tank community. Last but not least is the lack of quality nourishment and the wrong diet.

This is a fearful fish and if it is not feeling safe, it will not stop hiding, so make sure you place some hiding areas in your tank. They prefer low lighting, because too much brightness will stress the fish.

You can put trimmed pipe to serve as some kind of cave for its hiding habits. Also, this fish likes to dig a hole in the sand and put its head into it. Additional sand on a smooth substrate will make your fish much happier.

The Firefish’s first reaction when introduced to a new environment will of course, be hiding. It may take several days before the fish gets comfortable with the new surrounding area and feel prepared to chase food with its tank mates. This fish does not fight for food, so make sure it is fed enough. Interesting fact for the Firefish is that it is resistant to illness and can get accustomed to tank life quite easily.

It is recommended that the temperature of the fish tank is from 71 to 77 Degrees Fahrenheit accompanied with a pH from 8.0 to 8.3.

Feeding Habit

Feeding the Firefish will be easy, since this fish is an omnivore. With a diet that includes feeding two times a day, you can empower their healthy nutrition. Feel free to offer them meat, along with some vegetarian food. Some example would be:

• zooplankton that grows in the aquarium
• mysis shrimp
• beautifully chopped frozen and fresh seafood
• algae
• brine shrimp
• little crustaceans along with supplemental vitamins

Keep in mind that they are not predatorily in their behavior towards food and will not fight with the other fish when it is feeding time, so you should always watch the Firefish when you feed them, making sure that they are well fed. If not, you can reinforce their food quantity so that they can eat properly.

Breeding Firefish

There are not enough scientific information about how a Firefish breeds, but it is assumed that its practice are much the same compared to the other types of Goby fish.

The Firefish is a monogamous species so it will have only one partner at a time. A pair of Firefishes will live pleasantly together.

While trying to breed them, make sure that they are properly nourished and the water is clean with a functioning filtration system. Remember to keep the lighting dimmed.

Reasons to get a firefish

• The Firefish are pretty much the most obedient species, so you will have no problems with them attacking smaller fish or any kind of aggressive behavior from them
• They are amazingly intelligent and they are giving livelihood into the aquarium with their active swimming and positive temperament
• This fish will surely get your attention with its quick movements and dynamic rhythm of life
• Their blended body color is very artistic, half white and half red
• It is very easy to care for them, as they are omnivores, you can feed them with every different kinds of fish food, plant and animal based
• While swimming, they will get along the front of the aquarium and show curiosity if you are keeping an eye on them, so expect the Firefish to show off what they got so that they may impress their audience. Perfect for kids and guests
• The Firefish can be purchased for a pretty reasonable amount of money. Being not expensive makes it even easier to get a whole group of them and watch a community of Firefish living happily in your home aquarium will be the best decision that you have made