Purple firefish (Nemateleotris
decora)
are members of the
family Microdesmidae.
These little fish are native
to the Indo-West Pacific. Their habitat ranges from the Philippines
to Australia.
They were first made know to the aquarium trade in 1973 by marine
aquatic
experts Randall and Allen.
Purple firefish
are often
mistaken for gobies. While they are very closely
related to the goby family they are actually dartfish. This species is
predominantly white or yellow with slender cylindrical bodies. The body
markings on this fish are extraordinary. They have a purple patch on
their head
and their fins are trimmed with varying shades of purple, blue, red,
orange and
maroon. This is a small fish. It will only grow to a maximum length of
4
inches. They are more typically 2.5-3 inches.
This fish carries
an easy
care rating and is an excellent choice for
the
inexperienced saltwater aquarium owner. They are rated reef safe. This
is a
hardy, very disease resistant species.
Their general durability, small
size and
tolerance of varied water parameters make them extremely popular among
nano-reef owners. This fish can be kept
in an aquarium as small as 10
gallons,
even smaller if you are diligent in maintaining water quality. Purple
firefish
are also sold by the aquarium industry under the names elegant
firefish, flame
firefish, decorated firefish, fire goby, and purple dartfish.
If this
fish’s
size and survivability tempt you to add one to your community
tank you should be aware that they are prolific jumpers. They should
only be
kept in a tightly lidded aquarium. This is one of the more aggressive
dartfish
but is still relatively docile compared to other marine species. It
should only
be kept with smaller, less aggressive fish. They will exhibit
territorial
behavior toward their own kind. Do not purchase multiples. A male and
female of
the species will mix together well.
The purple
firefish will
require lots of hiding places. Plenty of coral
rubble on top of your primary substrate will make them feel right at
home. This
fish must be allowed to feel confident in its new surroundings. It will
starve
itself to death rather than compete for its food. A fading in color is
a good
indication that it is suffering from malnutrition. If food is not an
issue this
fish may live from 7-10 years in captivity.
This is a
carnivorous
species. In their natural habitat its diet consists
primarily of zooplankton. In captivity they will eat flaked food and
pellets.
However as with any marine species it is advisable to provide these
fish with a
varied diet. You can feed them vitamin enriched brine shrimp, mysid
shrimp,
finely chopped fresh seafood and frozen or freeze dried food formulated
for
marine carnivores. These supplements will help maintain their fit and
vigor.
Purple
firefish do
occasionally breed in home aquariums. This is an egg
laying species. They are also monogamous in nature. Once a pair is
mated they
may spawn 2-4 times a month. Eggs are whitish in coloration and
approximately
2mm in diameter. The egg’s incubation period is 7-10 days
depending on water
temperature.
