Nemateleotris helfrichi

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Facts
Latin name Nemateleotris helfrichi - Randall & Allen, 1973
Local name Helfrichs' dartfish
Family Microdesmidae - Nemateleotris
Origin Australia, Indonesia, East Pacific, Central/West Pacific
Max length 6 cm (2.4")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 100 l (26 gal)
Hardiness Hardy
Suitable for aquarium Suitable for most aquarium
Reef safe Always reef safe
Aggressiveness Docile but might be aggressive towards similar species
Feed
Recommended Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...)
Beware of
Jumps out of open aquaria

This species is known to jump out of open aquaria.

Keep in mind
Lives in a pair

This species can live as a pair (male and female).

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Docile

This species is very shy and docile, so one should be careful when keeping it with more aggressive fish.

Enriched food

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.

Descriptions and further reading
Family description (Microdesmidae)

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.

FishBase
Aquarium trade Yes
Distribution Pacific Ocean: eastwards to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands.
English common names Helfrichs' dartfish
References and further reading

About references

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)