by Ikaros Marks

Created on: May 12, 2009   Last Updated: May 15, 2009

Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)

Commonly called Orange Firefish, Fire Wormfish, Fire Goby, Fire Dartfish, or Red Fire Goby, the firefish is a marine dartfish found in the upper substrate of the coral reef ecosystem. They live as deep as 70 metres beneath the surface of the water and hover above the surface of the ocean floor, utilizing the current passing them by to bring them their prey. Their food consists mainly of zooplankton, copepods and crustacean larvae.

Their bodies are white, but they change colour grade both towards the head (which is bright yellow) and the tail (which is orange-red). Their particular colouring is responsible for the many nicknames which take this aquarium fish. Their characteristic long dorsal fin is used as a signalling device to other firefishes. Before 1986, the firefish were classified as blennies and not gobies. The adult firefish reaches a length of about 3.5 inches. In the wild, fire gobies have a small territorial expanse outside their cave or burrow. They use these burrows or caves as havens in case they are attacked. Mating takes place in these burrows as well. Juveniles and adults sometimes share a burrow, and at times multiple adults may form an informal colony to share a single burrow. Territorially, their controlled space is approximately twenty to thirty centimetres squared (about a foot square).

The keeping of fire gobies is particularly easy. They will eat almost anything you give to them without complaint. In order to make sure they are not overfed on any one type of food, it is recommended to feed them all kinds of live, frozen and flake foods. Brine shrimp is a delicacy since in the wild they prey on crustacean larvae, and the shrimp closely resembles their natural prey. From the description of their burrows, it is also recommended that one provide locations for hiding or retreating to mimic the burrow they usually have in the wild.

Since their natural habitat allows for them to control an area of about a foot square, the minimum tank size for a fire goby is just this, about a foot square. It is also recommended that the tank be a minimum of thirty gallons. Water movement in the tank should be weak to moderate. Harsh water movement is liable to get your fire goby sick. Since these fish are primarily tropical, water temperature is recommended to be between seventy-two and seventy-nine degrees Fahrenheit (Approximately between twenty five and thirty degrees centigrade).

As far as raising a Fire goby goes, they are one of the single easiest fish to raise and keep outside of their natural habitat. Their demands are minimal and their cost is rather inexpensive. They are a good investment for one who is not getting into keeping an aquarium or a keeper who doesn't have much time.

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