Common names for the Exquisite Firefish Goby include; Firefish, Purple Firefish, Purple Fire Goby, Dartfish & Purple Fire Dartfish.

This attractive & active fish is a welcome addition to most aquariums. With their unusual shape and interesting colours they are sure to catch the eye of anyone looking at your tank.

Purple Firefish
Purple Firefish

They are known as dartfish because they have a habit of darting into their hiding spot very quickly when they are spooked.

This fish acclimates very well to the home aquarium and is very hardy. The Exquisite Firefish will hover several inches below the water surface in wait to feed on drifting organisms or may occasionally feed off the bottom substrate.

They like plenty of live rock for shelter, and will normally have a favourite “bolt hole” to dart back to. A tight fitting lid is an absolute must for these fish as they are known jumpers.

They should be kept singularly, unless bought as mated pairs.

Tank Requirements & Facts

Exquisite Firefish Goby
Exquisite Firefish Goby
  • Minimum tank size: 20 Gallon (91 Litres)
  • Prone to disease: No
  • Beginner Compatible: Yes
  • Adult Size: 3 inches (7.6cm)
  • Reef Compatible: Yes
  • Predator Tank Compatible: No
  • Care Level: Easy
  • pH: 8.1 to 8.4
  • Temperature: 22°C to 27°C
  • Preferred Tank Level: All
  • Lots of hiding places required for these skittish fish
  • Tight fitting lid, these fish are notorious jumpers
  • Number to a tank: One to be kept per tank, you can keep a mated pair, but it is pot luck if you get a male and a female. Two males together will almost certainly kill each other

Feeding

  • These are omnivores
  • They catch their food in the water column as it passes them
  • They are not overly aggressive eaters
  • They don’t tend to graze on Nori
  • They don’t show much interest in pellets
  • Flaked food, frozen food & live foods are readily accepted

Acclimatisation

When acclimating your firefish it is best to do so in a deep bucket that the fish is unable to jump out of.

Place your fish in the bucket and then drip acclimate for about 45 minutes at a rate of 3 drips per second. This should bring the fishes water parameters in line with your tanks parameters.

Once your fish has been drip acclimated, catch the fish with a net and place it gently into your tank. Do not put any of the water the fish originally came in, into your tank.

Care should be taken after adding the fish to ensure there is a tightly fitting lid on the aquarium at all times. These fish are known to be jumpers and they are more likely to jump when first introduced to an aquarium.

Can I Keep a Different Firefish In The Same Tank?

Purple Firefish
Purple Firefish

As pretty and peaceful as these fish are, they do not do particularly well together. Two males will almost certainly kill each other, and this particular marine species is nearly impossible to sex. A male and a female will generally be ok together, but it is pot luck as to what sex fish you get (unless you are lucky enough to find an already established pair).

Dartfish Goby
Red Firefish

Even mixing the two colours up has no guarantee that they will not fight, especially in smaller aquariums. In larger aquariums, you may be lucky enough for each of the fish to claim and end of the tank and keep to their own ends, but this again is a bit of luck rather than judgment, as it depends on where your firefish decide to call home!

If you do decide to take a chance on it (as many reefers have), ensure you have a large tank, 4 foot long as a minimum and make sure you add the fish at the same time and that they are of a similar size.