Firefish Helfrichi

Nemateleotris lavandula

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Stock	Variations	Price	Quantity
Out of Stock	2 - 3" - Central Pacific	Original price was: $186.99.Current price is: $98.99.		Email me
Out of Stock	2" or smaller - Central Pacific	Original price was: $137.99.Current price is: $72.99.		Email me

Brand: Reefs4Less

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Care Level	Moderate
Temperament	Peaceful
Reef Safe	Yes
Functional Benefit	Ornamental Only
Diet Type	Carnivore
Mininum Tank Size	20 gallons
Max Size	3 inches
Temperature	72–78°F
pH Range	8.1–8.4
Specific Gravity	1.022–1.025

Firefish Helfrichi (Nemateleotris lavandula) is a small dartfish with a yellow face, a lavender-to-lilac body that fades toward the tail, and a long first dorsal “flag.” It typically hovers just above a chosen rock crevice, adding constant motion while leaving corals and most invertebrates alone.

What You’ll Observe:

Holding position in the water column, then making quick, precise dashes back to its home hole
Brief “patrol” loops around its favorite shelter, often returning to the same spot
Snapping up small meaty foods from midwater during feeding time
Settling into a consistent daytime hangout and returning to the same sleeping spot each night

Provide rockwork with narrow caves plus a little rubble at the base so it has a secure retreat, and keep open water in front for hovering. Offer small meaty foods 2–3 times daily; once settled, many individuals also take quality micro-pellets. Use a tight-fitting cover that blocks gaps so it stays where you want it.

How long does it take before it stays out in the open?
Many spend the first several days learning the tank and using one primary hideout; as it recognizes the feeding routine, it often hovers farther from the rockwork.

Can it be kept as a pair?
Pairs tend to do best when introduced together and allowed to choose a shared shelter, rather than adding one later to an established fish.

Will it accept pellets or only frozen foods?
Most start readily on frozen mysis/brine and can transition to small pellets by mixing pellets into frozen foods and feeding in the same spot.

Can it jump through mesh lids?
Smaller individuals can slip through coarse mesh or escape at overflow/feeding cutouts, so fine mesh and a sealed perimeter make a big difference.

Does it need a sand bed, or can it live in bare-bottom tanks?
It mainly uses rock crevices rather than digging; a small rubble pile or a simple rock “cave” provides a similar retreat in bare-bottom systems.

Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.