Nemateleotris exquisite

(Randall, 2013)

Exquisite Firefish

Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Mauritius, and Mozambique.

Size: 3.5 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits deep outer reef slopes between 85 - 200 feet (25 - 60 m) and seen over sand and rubble where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Uncommon in the trade, and a very pretty fish. Has an elongated yellowish body often with purplish-blue on the aft body and violet on the forehead with red edging on dark blue dorsal and anal fins, and red upper and lower tail lobes.

Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums with moderate currents and having numerous hiding places, e.g., rocky crevices. Will hover in open water, yet near the safety of an area where it can quickly retreat if threatened.

Should not be housed with aggressive fishes such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or aggressive angelfishes, which would interfere with its feeding and cause this fish to starve to death.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine fresh or frozen foods, including flake foods, which should be finely chopped and dispensed upstream so the water current brings the food to within the area it inhabits. Needs two feedings per day.

If difficult to get feeding in the beginning, try some live foods, such as adult fortified brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Microdesmidae

Genus: Nemateleotris

FYI: One per tank unless a mated pair.

Colors fade if it has an inadequate/varied diet.

Covered aquariums are required as this a good jumper.

Naturally faces into the current to capture zooplankton, and highly disease resistant.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5