Firefish Goby

The Firefish Goby, also known as the Fire Dartfish or Magnificent Firefish, is a stunning and peaceful saltwater fish prized for its vibrant coloration and elegant appearance. Featuring a white body with a bright yellow head and a dramatic red-orange tail that fades to black, these fish are truly magnificent. They are active swimmers that hover in the water column and have a unique "perching" behavior on rock ledges. Firefish are shy and peaceful, preferring to be kept singly or in pairs. They make excellent additions to peaceful reef tanks and nano aquariums.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Firefish Gobies need a peaceful tank with plenty of hiding spots:

• Minimum 10 gallons (20+ recommended for comfort)
• Caves and hiding spots - essential for security
• Rock ledges for perching
• Peaceful tank mates only
• Protein skimmer
• Gentle flow (they prefer calmer areas)
• Heater to maintain 72-78°F
• Tight-fitting lid - they are known jumpers!

Critical: They are expert jumpers. A completely covered tank is mandatory.

Water Quality (Marine)

• Temperature: 72-78°F (22-25.5°C)
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <20 ppm
• Phosphate: <0.03 ppm
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm
• Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH

Maintenance:

• Weekly 10-15% water changes
• Top off with RO/DI water daily
• Maintain stable parameters (sensitive to fluctuations)

Feeding

Firefish are carnivores with small mouths:

• Frozen Mysis shrimp (small pieces)
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Marine pellets (small size)
• Marine flakes (high quality)
• Copepods (live or frozen)

Feeding Schedule: 2-3 times daily. They have small stomachs and need frequent small meals.

Note: They may be shy about eating initially. Target feeding near their hiding spot can help.

Behavior & Compatibility

Firefish are peaceful but very shy and easily bullied:

• Good Tank Mates:

  • Clownfish (peaceful species)
  • Small tangs
  • Cardinalfish
  • Blennies
  • Dartfish
  • Small wrasses
  • Shrimp and other invertebrates

• Avoid:

  • Other Firefish Gobies (unless mated pair in large tank)
  • Aggressive fish (damsels, dottybacks, triggers)
  • Large predatory fish
  • Fish that occupy the same swimming level

Behavior: They hover elegantly in the water column near their hiding spot and retreat quickly when threatened.

Jumping Risk

Firefish are notorious jumpers:

• MANDATORY: Tight-fitting lid with no gaps
• Even small openings are escape routes
• Can jump when startled by sudden movements or bright lights
• Secure all equipment openings

Health Considerations

Firefish can be sensitive:

• Starvation: May not compete well for food with aggressive eaters
• Stress: Easily stressed by aggressive tank mates or poor water quality
• Marine Ich: Quarantine new fish

Prevention: Maintain peaceful tank, target feed if necessary, and keep water parameters stable.