Firefish goby

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Tropical seas of the Indo-Pacific (from Africa to the Indian Ocean up to the Pacific). Populates the white coral sand bottoms, the reef rubble zones and the outer reefs at moderate depths.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Firefish Goby / Dartfish (Nemateleotris magnifica). Iconic marine specimen. Very tapered goby. Distinctive sign: the dizzying, very high and slender spine of the anterior dorsal fin used as a communicative and defense "antenna".

Social Behavior: Peaceful, but fussy and very fearful (Hovering Goby). Stays almost always suspended 10 cm (4 inches) from its hole in the sand, oriented against the current. At the slightest loud noise or movement (or passage of a large fish), it darts at warp speed into its den or jumps out of the water.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Breathtaking chromatic transition (Firefish): the anterior half (head and belly) is a pure ghostly silvery white; mid-body it fades into an intense fluorescent pink, ending with a fire-orange or coral red and black edges on the tail. Huge and cute eye. Dimorphism absent.

Aquarium Setup: Small marine aquarium (even 60-80 Liters / 15-20 Gallons Nano Reef). Fundamental is a mixed substrate (sand and rubble) to allow it to dig or adapt a hole under a large Live Rock. ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY Lid.

Diet and Feeding: Visual zooplanktivore. Does not graze algae or stones. Gathers tiny drifting copepods and mysis. Quickly accepts tiny sinking granules for marine fish (TDO, calanus, fish eggs) provided they fall close to its den (will not come out in the open to look for them).

Water Quality: Clean marine water (Salinity 1.023-1.025). Tolerates slight pollution compared to hard corals, but needs a gentle and constant laminar current towards which it can turn "suspended" and wait for its meal.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Perfect Nano Reef roommate (Reef Safe 100%). Ignores corals and shrimp. Magnificent with clownfish (Amphiprion) and Blennies. NEVER with Lionfish (Pterois) or groupers which would suck it up like a macaroni, and NEVER two males of the same species or they will tear each other apart.

Aquarium Reproduction: Very rare, but forms stable monogamous pairs that spawn in the deep darkness of the den, hatching pelagic larvae that are almost impossible to raise in a closed system.

Risks and Diseases: The King of Jumpers. It is the number 1, 2 and 3 cause of death for Nemateleotris. Without a fine-mesh net or a total glass lid, you will find 100 dollars of dried magnificence on the floor the day after purchase.