Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

The Purple Firefish is incredibly timid and easily intimidated by boisterous tankmates. Once they feel secure, they will spend most of the day boldly hovering in the open. If housed with aggressive fish, they may hide constantly and eventually starve.

Diet

Carnivore

They are zooplanktivores that naturally pluck small crustaceans from the water column. In captivity, they require finely chopped meaty foods like mysis shrimp and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp. High-quality marine micro-pellets and flakes are usually accepted with enthusiasm.

Sex ratio

Flexible

Sexing the Purple Firefish visually is impossible as males and females look identical. Unless a guaranteed mated pair is purchased, it is highly recommended to keep only a single specimen. Adding two unsexed individuals often results in one harassing the other to death.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Due to their high energy levels, they require small, frequent meals to thrive. Feeding them twice a day is generally sufficient for maintaining optimal health. Care must be taken to ensure faster fish do not steal all the food before the firefish can eat.

Bioload

The Purple Firefish is a very small, slender fish that produces an extremely light bioload. Their minimal waste output makes them perfectly suited for nano reef setups. They will not put significant strain on standard biological filtration systems.

Flow

Moderate

They prefer a moderate water flow that gently sweeps food past their hiding spots. The flow should be steady but not so turbulent that it exhausts them. They will often hover facing the current, waiting for morsels to drift by.

Jump risk

Yes

Firefish possess a notoriously high risk of jumping out of the aquarium, especially when frightened. A tight-fitting mesh lid or glass canopy is absolutely essential for their survival. Even a tiny gap near a filter return is large enough for an escape.

Reproduction

Oviparous

While they do form monogamous pairs in the wild, captive breeding is extremely difficult. They lay their eggs deep within a small burrow where the male aggressively guards them. Rearing the microscopic larvae requires highly specialized rotifer cultures and advanced techniques.

Compatibility & tankmates

Peaceful

They are completely reef safe and entirely peaceful toward other fish and invertebrates. However, they will display severe aggression toward other firefish or dartfish. They should only be kept with very docile, non-aggressive tankmates that will not bully them.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They generally hover in the lower to middle levels of the water column, always staying close to a bolt-hole. When threatened, they instantly dart into their chosen crevice or burrow in the substrate. Providing ample rockwork with numerous small caves is a strict requirement.