Purple Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris decora
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $75.99.$39.99Current price is: $39.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $79.99.$41.99Current price is: $41.99. | Email me |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 20 gallons |
| Max Size | 4 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Purple Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris decora) is a reef-safe dartfish with a pale front half that transitions into deeper purples, plus a purple-and-red accented tail and long first dorsal fin. In a reef tank, it’s typically seen hovering just off the rockwork and facing into the flow to intercept small foods in the water column.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering in the open near a chosen “home base,” then returning to the same crevice between passes
- Short, quick dashes into rockwork and back out as it explores its preferred zone
- Most active response at feeding time, rising into the water column to grab small meaty foods
- Consistent use of one or two favorite resting spots, especially as it settles in
To succeed, provide rockwork with small caves plus a little coral rubble so it can pick a secure retreat. Offer small meaty foods (like mysis and finely chopped seafood) in multiple small feedings. A tight-fitting lid helps keep this fast-moving dartfish fully at home in your aquarium.
Will it pick one “spot” in the tank and stay there?
Many settle into a favorite crevice and treat the surrounding area as their regular hovering zone, especially once they’re comfortable with the routine.
Why do they sometimes seem to “vanish” for a day or two?
It’s common for them to switch resting spots inside the rockwork and reappear when they’re ready to resume their usual hovering and feeding pattern.
Can I keep two Purple Firefish together?
It often works best as a single fish or as a confirmed pair; two unpaired individuals may not stay compatible long-term as they sort out space.
Do they eat food off the sand, or only from the water column?
They’re primarily water-column feeders, but many will also pick at food that lands nearby once they recognize it as a meal.
Do they get along with sand-sifting gobies or other cave users?
They can share the lower rockwork with other bottom-oriented fish when there are multiple crevices available, and some hobbyists observe them using nearby burrows as part of their daily routine.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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