Common Name: Purple Firefish / Purple Dartfish

Species Name: Nemateleotris decora Randall & Allen, 1973


Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Ryukyu Islands and the Great Barrier Reef


Size: Up to 2.5 inches (6 cm)


Natural Environment: Inhabit areas above gravel and rocky bottoms at depths between 75 to 200 feet (25 - 60 m)


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 72 - 82°F (22 - 28°C). Natural diet consists mainly of zooplankton. Requires a meaty diet, i.e., enriched brine shrimp, mysis, finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, with one or two feedings per day. Naturally faces into the current so as capture zooplankton, and highly disease resistant. A mid-level water column fish and a good jumper, therefore openings over the tank should be covered with something like eggcrate. One per tank unless a mated pair.


Aquarium Suitability: *


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* - Suited for the reef aquarium;
** - Better suited for the fish-only aquarium;
*** - Better left in nature;
**** - Needing an aquarium larger than 125 gallons; and,
***** - Needing their own private environment/special tankmates.