Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris Helfrichi)

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Purple, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 2.4 inches

Origin : Marshall Islands

Family : Gobiidae

Minimum Tank Size : 20 gallons

The Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris Helfrichi) is also known as the Helfrich's Dartfish, or Helfrich's Firefish. Due to their bright colour they are very popular as a marine aquarium fish.

They are small fishes that grow to a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in). They have bright yellow head with purple forehead with purple and white shades on body.

It requires a 20 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of loose coral rubble as part of the aquascape, and a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out of the tank.

The species is shy and hides in small caves when threatened. It will rarely become aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a bonded pair. Better companions for Nemateleotris helfrichi are other rather quiet species, such as small cardinals, forktails, mandarins and scooters Synchiropus, small gobies, and Meiacanthus fang blennies. Apart from members of their own genus—and particularly their own species, except in the case of mated pairs—firefishes get along very well with other members of the dartfish family, such as Ptereleotris species. The Helfrichi Firefish does not bother any corals or sessile invertebrates and is considered a reef safe species.

They are carnivorous. Feeding is also straightforward: frozen crustaceans of suitable size, such as Artemia or copepods (i.e., red plankton), finely chopped mysis or krill, and fish roe are good staple foods. Flake foods will also be taken provided they are broken into small-enough pieces and preferably presented in midwater, as firefishes sometimes have difficulty learning to feed from the surface.

Size: Small: 3/4" to 1-1/4"; Medium: 1-1/4" to 2"; Large: 2" to 2-1/2"