Curious Wormfish
(Gunnelichthys curiosus)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 4½”
Color Form: Blue, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Microdesmidae
Swim Level: Bottom

The Curious Wormfish is also referred to as the Rainbow Goby, the Neon Worm Goby, and the Yellow-striped Worm Eel. The Curious Wormfish has orange and metallic blue stripes running the length of its body.

A tank of at least 30 gallons or larger with a sandy bottom will provide a healthy environment, as this fish tends to bury itself in soft substrate both at night and when startled. The Curious Wormfish may be kept as an individual or in small groups, but all need to be introduced to the tank simultaneously and have plenty of swimming room. Its tankmates should be peaceful, as it is easy prey for more aggressive fish.

The meaty diet of the Curious Wormfish should include fresh or frozen seafood and brine and mysis shrimp.

Approximate Purchase Size: 2-1/2″ to 3-1/2″

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Scissortail Dartfish
(Ptereleotris evides)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 5½”
Color Form: Blue, Purple, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Africa, Coral Sea, Fiji, Indo-Pacific, Melanesia
Family: Gobiidae (Microdesmidae)

The Scissortail Goby, also known as the Scissortail Dartfish, has a white head and blue body with large dorsal and anal fins.

It should be housed in a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of loose coral rubble, and a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out of the tank. It requires ample swimming room and a sand bottom for burrowing. It will rarely become aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair.

The Scissortail Goby diet should include chopped or shaved seafood, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp.

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Lined Dartfish
(Ptereleotris grammica)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 5″
Color Form: Black, Blue
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Microdesmidae
Swim Level: Middle to Bottom

The Lined Dartfish has a gray body with black and blue stripes running horizontally along its body.

It should be housed in a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of loose coral rubble, and a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out of the tank. It requires ample swimming room and a sand bottom for occasional burrowing. In the wild, Lined Dartfish are found in pairs, and should be housed in the home aquarium as such. They are timid around larger fish and should be kept with other peaceful small fish.

The Lined Dartfish diet should include chopped or shaved seafood, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp.

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Purple Firefish
(Nemateleotris decora)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Purple, Red, White, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Maldives
Family: Gobiidae

The Purple Firefish, also known as the Decorated Firefish, Purple Dartfish, Decorated Dartfish, or Flame Firefish, was first discovered in the Indo-west-Pacific Ocean in 1973 by Randall and Allen. The colorful body base is varied degrees of yellow to white, and deep shades of purple which begin at the head and ends with maroon-tipped fins.

It requires a 10 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of loose coral rubble as part of the aquascape, and a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out of the tank. It will rarely become aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair.

The Purple Firefish will feed mostly on prey suspended in the water column, but will pick food off the substrate. Its varied diet should consist of chopped or shaved seafood, frozen food preparations for carnivores, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp. The vibrant coloring will fade if not fed a vitamin-enriched diet.

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Firefish
(Nemateleotris magnifica)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Orange, Red, White, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Coral Sea, Indo-Pacific, Maldives
Family: Gobiidae

The Firefish is one of the more popular fish in the marine hobby. It is a magnificent fish with brilliant coloration, a unique body shape, and unparalleled personality. Also known as the Firefish Goby, Fire Goby, and Magnificent or Fire Dartfish, Nemateleotris magnifica has a yellow head, white anterior, and pinkish to orange-red posterior. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are highlighted in black. In addition to its striking coloration, the Firefish Goby is also heralded as a sweet-tempered fish with lots of personality. And, because of its small size, the Firefish Goby makes a great addition to the smaller reef system.

In the wild, the Firefish Goby is usually found in groups hovering over the reef, harvesting planktonic food that drifts by in the current. The docile, Firefish Goby is timid and in the wild, each will have a “bolt-hole” into which it quickly ducks when threatened. In the home aquarium, the Firefish Goby needs multiple safety zones amongst rocky crags or outcroppings into which it can dart if stressed. This member of the Gobiidae family is generally not aggressive towards other fish except those of its own species. However, a mated pair can live peacefully together.

To best recreate their wild habitat, the Firefish Goby requires a 10-gallon or larger system with moderate lighting conditions and a moderate current passing over the live rock “reef.” Keep in mind that a stressed Firefish Goby will try to jump out of your aquarium. As such, house the Firefish Goby in aquarium systems with a lid. Hobbyists who use a halide system with an open top should construct a Plexiglas “edge” around the trim, at least 10″ tall.

Along with algae and zooplankton growing in the aquarium, the diet of the Firefish Goby should consist of finely chopped small crustaceans, vitamin-enriched brine fish (live or frozen), mysis shrimp, and prepared foods.

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