Nemateleotris helfrichi
From RTAW Reefpedia
| See Talk:Nemateleotris helfrichi for individual experiences with this species, Nemateleotris helfrichi. Feel free to add your own personal experiences. |
| Common Name | |
| Helfrichs' Firefish | |
| Binomial Name | |
| Nemateleotris helfrichi | |
| |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Ptereleotridae |
| Genus: | Nemateleotris |
| Species: | helfrichi |
Common Names
- Helfrichs' Firefish
- Helfrichs' Firegoby
- Helfrichs' Dartfish
Characteristics
Description
Long bullet shaped goby, with a regularly flicking dorsal fin. The type form is a dusky pink lavender anteriorly, fusing to lemon in the tail. The fish has a bright yellow face with a hot pink swatch on its head.
Similar Species
2 other firefish species: N. magnifica and N. decora. N. helfrichi can be distinguished from these by its colouring. It is also the smallest of the three species and has a much shorter dorasl fin than N. magnifica.
Maximum Size
6cm [1]
Associated Organisms
Anything that lives in symbiosis, parasitic or opportunistically with it.
Behaviour
An endearing community fish that minds its own business, the firefish sleeps at night in a bolthole in liverock. During the day they are continually on display in a peaceful tank and hover in midwater, waiting to snatch nearby food. When alarmed they will instantly retreat to the liverock. Note: they are a skittish fish if kept with aggressive tankmates.
Captive Care
Tank Size
50L minimum. They need room to hover vertically above the LR / rubble.
Water Flow
Variable.
Lighting
Moderate lighting is preferred as this is a deepwater fish [1]. Once accustomed to captivity will tolerate more intense lighting.
Feeding
Feeds on zooplankton in the wild and will accept frozen substitutes & frozen home made mix. May also accept dry food.
Other
They are known jumpers.
Diseases
Gallery
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Compatibility
Fish
Can be kept as individuals or pairs only. There is anecdotal evidence that an incompatible pair may fight resulting in serious injury to the submissive fish. May be shy if kept with bold fish e.g. dottybacks and some wrasses[1].
Coral
Compatible with all corals.
Invertebrate
Compatible with all invertebrates.
Reproduction
Unknown. Anecdotal evidence where a pair laid eggs is given here: http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2505
Local Ecology
Distribution
Pacific Ocean [1]
Habitat
These are deepwater fish that are seldom found under 40m [1] and are usually found in monogamous pairs [1][1].
Additional Information
Some additional notes on it that don't fit in the above sections.
Resources
- Nemateleotris helfrichi - FishBase
- Deepwater Reef Fish Communities: Part 2 A Survey of Deep Reef Fish by Scott Michael - Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine
- Fishes Suitable for the Invertebrate Aquarium: Genus Nemateleotris by J. Charles Delbeek - Atoll
