Nemateleotris magnifica
| Latin name | Nemateleotris magnifica - Fowler, 1938 |
|---|---|
| Local name | Firefish |
| Family | Microdesmidae - Nemateleotris |
| Origin | East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Indonesia, East Pacific, Central/West Pacific |
| Max length | 9 cm (3.5") |
| Minimum volume |
200 l (53 gal) 
|
|---|---|
| Hardiness |
Hardy
|
| Suitable for aquarium |
Suitable for most aquarium
|
| Reef safe |
Always reef safe
|
| Aggressiveness | Docile but might be aggressive towards similar species |
| Recommended |
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...) |
|---|---|
| Mostly |
Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...) |
This species is known to jump out of open aquaria.
This species can live as a pair (male and female).
This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.
This species is very shy and docile, so one should be careful when keeping it with more aggressive fish.
Over time this species can lose some of its colour when the food does not contain sufficient vitamins.
It pays therefore, to use a some type of enriched food, or one, specific to this species.
Dartfish (Microdesmidae) are recognized by their unique torpedo like shape. All Dartfish need hiding places where they can withdraw to when feeling threatened. They do not normally naturally dig their own holes, but use ones made by other creatures.
They are generally a popular aquarium fish, relatively easy to keep, so for a small tank with peaceful fish the Dartfish is the obvious choice.
They can easily feel threatened by larger more aggressive fish with the result that they cannot feed enough and die by lack of food. One has therefore a greater chance of success when they are kept with smaller, peaceful, fish.
After first introducing a Dartfish, it is advizable to dim the light, so it can get used to the tank in peace.
| Aquarium trade | Yes |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Pitcairn islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands; throughout Micronesia. |
| English common names |
Fire dartfish Fire fish Firefish Fire goby Red fire-goby |
| French common names |
Gobie de feu Poisson de feu |
| Danish common names |
Almindelig ildhalekutling |
| German common names |
Pracht-Flügelgrundel |
Daniel Pomfret. 2008. Let’s Play Darts! Marine Dartfish - Tropical Fish Hobbyist - (English)
Bob Fenner. Firefishes, Dartfishes, Wormfishes, Family Microdesmidae, Subfamily Ptereleotrinae - Wet Web Media - (English)