Firefish goby care

Quick reference

What is a firefish goby?

Nemateleotris magnifica is one of the most widespread reef fish in the hobby, found from East Africa to Hawaii, the Marquesas and Pitcairn, usually at 6–28 m on the upper parts of outer reef slopes.^[2] It hovers just above the bottom facing into the current, picking zooplankton out of the water, and flicks its long first dorsal fin back and forth, the habit behind the name.^[2] When threatened it shoots into a hole in the reef, and several fish, especially juveniles, may share one.^[2]

Feeding

In the wild it eats zooplankton, copepods and crustacean larvae.^[2] In the tank, LiveAquaria recommends vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, mysis and prepared marine foods, plus whatever plankton the tank grows.^[1] Meerwasser-Lexikon lists amphipods, brine shrimp, copepods, mysis, krill, small frozen foods and flake among the foods it takes.^[3] It feeds from the water column rather than the bottom,^[2] so let food drift past its cave rather than dropping it where bottom-feeders get it first.

Aggression and spacing

LiveAquaria says it is generally not aggressive toward other fish except its own species, and that a mated pair can live peacefully together.^[1] FishBase lists the species as monogamous, and Meerwasser-Lexikon owners describe pairs swimming together without trouble.^{[2, 3]} The safe plan is one fish, or two sold as an established pair.^[1]

Tankmates

Peaceful toward corals and invertebrates.^[1] Its problem is the reverse: it's timid. LiveAquaria advises multiple safe retreats among the rock,^[1] and a Meerwasser-Lexikon owner reports a hawkfish chasing a pair until the hawkfish was taken out for a few days; once the firefish had claimed a cave, the two got along.^[3] Choose calm tankmates and add the firefish before territorial fish.^[3]

Disease and quarantine

We found no disease information specific to the firefish. General marine fish guidance applies: CORAL Magazine recommends quarantining every incoming fish, captive-bred included, for at least 2–4 weeks, and UF/IFAS advises 3–6 weeks at 24–27 °C, longer when ich is suspected.^{[6, 7]} The firefish's main risk is behavioural: LiveAquaria says a stressed one may leap out of the aquarium, so it needs a lid.^[1]

Breeding

Firefish lay demersal eggs. The UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory reported in 2019 that one home-aquarium pair spawned about monthly, producing roughly 3,000–6,000 eggs each time, and that larvae reached 52 days after hatching without yet settling; mortality after weaning from copepod nauplii was the main obstacle.^[5] Meerwasser-Lexikon lists it as not available as captive-bred offspring.^[3]

Troubleshooting

Common mistakes

• •Leaving the tank uncovered.^[1]
• •Buying two unpaired firefish.^[1]
• •Adding it after territorial fish that then chase it.^[3]
• •Bare rockwork with no holes it can dive into.^[1]

Equipment & food for this species

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, reefcalcs earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Frozen mysis is a good staple and quality pellets cover daily feeding. Many keepers soak food in a vitamin supplement such as Selcon.

Firefish goby FAQ

Do firefish gobies jump?

Yes. LiveAquaria says a stressed firefish may leap out of the aquarium, so keep it in a tank with a lid.^[1]

Can you keep two firefish together?

Only a mated pair. LiveAquaria says it's generally not aggressive except toward its own species, and that a mated pair can live together peacefully.^[1]

Are firefish gobies reef safe?

Yes. LiveAquaria lists it as reef compatible.^[1]

What size tank does a firefish need?

LiveAquaria says 20 gallons; Meerwasser-Lexikon recommends 250 L (about 66 gallons).^{[1, 3]}

How big do firefish get?

FishBase gives a maximum of 9 cm (3.5 in) total length; LiveAquaria lists 3 in.^{[2, 1]}

Is a firefish a goby?

Not strictly: it belongs to the dartfish family, Microdesmidae.^[2]