Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica)

The Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) is one of the all-time great beginner saltwater fish: a pearly white dartfish that fades into a blazing orange-red tail, hovering in the current like a little flame. It is peaceful, completely reef safe, and hardy, with one famous quirk: it is a world-class jumper, so a tight lid is not optional. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock while you are here.

Care Guide

Give a firefish a bolt-hole and a lid and it practically keeps itself. It hovers in open water facing the flow, then darts to its burrow the instant anything startles it.

• Tank size: 20 gallons or larger. Nano-friendly, but it appreciates open water column to hover in.
• Lid: Non-negotiable. Firefish jump when startled, especially in their first weeks. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen is the single most important piece of firefish care.
• Aquascape: Provide rockwork with at least one small cave or crevice it can claim. It sleeps and hides in the same hole every time.
• Water: 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.025. Standard stable reef conditions.
• Diet: A carnivore that feeds in the water column. Mysis, brine shrimp, and small pellets, fed once or twice daily. It rarely picks food off the bottom, so feed into the flow.

Specifications

Tank Mates & Compatibility

Firefish are model citizens with clownfish, gobies, blennies, cardinals, small wrasses, and every reef-safe invertebrate. The one rule is about their own kind: keep a single firefish, or a true bonded pair. Two random firefish in the same tank will fight over the best burrow, and the loser gets bullied. Skip aggressive tankmates like dottybacks and large angry damsels, which out-compete this polite feeder, and anything big enough to eat a 3 inch fish.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Aquaforest AF Liquid Mysis, an easy water-column food it loves
• Xtreme Marine pellets for a dry staple once it settles in
• Nutramar Tigrio Live Copepods to tempt a shy new arrival
• Browse all saltwater livestock and supplies

FAQ

Do I really need a lid?
Yes. This is the most important thing about firefish. They launch like missiles when startled, most often at night or when a new fish is added. A tight lid or mesh screen prevents nearly all firefish losses.

Can I keep two firefish together?
Only as a true bonded pair. Two unpaired firefish will fight over territory. One per tank is the safe rule.

Is it reef safe?
Completely. It ignores corals, clams, shrimp, and snails. It is one of the safest fish you can add to a full reef.

Why is it hiding all the time?
New firefish are shy for the first week or two. Give it a quiet tank, keep the lights a little dimmer, and feed consistently. Once it learns its burrow is safe, it will hover in the open all day.