Exquisite Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris exquisita)

The Exquisite Firefish (Nemateleotris exquisita) is a stunning, peaceful dartfish that hovers just above the rockwork, ready to dart into a hole at the first sign of trouble. Its pale cream-and-yellow head melts into a deep red and maroon tail, set off by electric blue and magenta highlights and a flicking dorsal fin. Hardy, reef-safe, and small enough for a nano reef, it is one of the most beginner-friendly showpiece fish in the hobby, as long as you keep a lid on the tank.

Browse the rest of our saltwater fish and marine livestock to build a peaceful reef community.

Care Guide

Firefish are easy to keep once two needs are met: a place to hide and a lid to keep them in.

• Keep a lid on it. This is the single most important thing. Firefish are champion jumpers and will leap through any small gap when startled, which is the number one cause of loss. A tight-fitting lid or mesh top is essential.
• Hiding spots. Provide plenty of live rock, caves, and a sand bed in a 10 gallon or larger tank. It needs a hole or crevice to claim as a bolt-hole, which makes it feel secure and come out more often.
• Temperament. Peaceful and a little shy. Keep just one per tank, or a bonded pair added at the same time. Two unpaired firefish usually fight. Avoid loud, boisterous tankmates that will bully it into hiding.
• Diet. Carnivore. Feed small meaty foods a few times a day: mysis, frozen brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, copepods, and a quality small marine pellet. It feeds in the water column rather than off the bottom.
• Water. Keep a stable, mature reef at 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.020 to 1.025, and pH 8.1 to 8.4.

Specifications

Compatibility

• Peaceful and reef-safe, ideal for nano and community reef tanks. It will not bother corals or invertebrates.
• Keep one per tank, or a bonded pair introduced together. Two unpaired firefish usually squabble.
• Pairs well with other calm fish such as small gobies, cardinalfish, and peaceful clownfish. Avoid aggressive or fast, boisterous tankmates that will outcompete it.
• A tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable, since firefish jump when spooked.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• SFBB Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp as a protein-rich staple
• Nutramar Tigrio Live Copepods to tempt shy or newly added fish
• Reef Nutrition Tigger Feast for extra zooplankton in the water column
• Pair it with another peaceful dartfish like our Zebra Bar Goby
• Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a lid?
Yes. Firefish are notorious jumpers, and leaping out of an open tank is the leading cause of loss. A tight-fitting lid or mesh top is essential.

Can I keep more than one?
Only as a bonded pair added at the same time, or one per tank. Two unpaired firefish usually fight over territory.

Is it reef safe?
Yes. It ignores corals and ornamental invertebrates and simply hovers peacefully over the rockwork.

Is it good for beginners?
Yes. It is hardy and peaceful. Just give it hiding spots, keep a lid on the tank, and avoid housing it with bullies.