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Purple Firefish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Nemateleotris decora

Complete Purple Firefish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 15 Gallons tank setup, and compatible saltwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Purple Firefish

Quick Answer

Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) is a more colorful relative of the common Firefish Goby. It requires a minimum 15 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 8.1 - 8.4 and temperature range of 24-26°C. This carnivore occupies the bottom/middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) is a more colorful relative of the common Firefish Goby. Its body transitions from pale purple to bright yellow.

Setup

A 15-gallon or larger reef tank with a tight-fitting lid (they jump!). Live rock, sand substrate, and gentle water flow. Provide caves and overhangs.

Feeding

Carnivorous; eats mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and small carnivore pellets.

Compatibility

Peaceful. Keep singly or as a mated pair. Good with other small, peaceful reef fish. Avoid aggressive or boisterous tankmates.

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Tank Position
Bottom/Middle
Water Temp
24-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
8.1 - 8.4

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

Banggai Cardinalfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet semanticSimilarity Blue Green Chromis Care Guide: Reef Tank & Diet semanticSimilarity Coral Banded Shrimp Care Guide: Water Params & Breeding semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Purple Firefish should be kept together?
Keep one per tank, or a single confirmed male-female mated pair in a tank of at least 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 30x12 inches (75x30 cm). Purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora) display striking purple and red color gradients but fight with conspecifics. Unbonded individuals will fight to severe injury. A mated pair requires at least 40 gallons. Provide a tight-fitting lid with no gaps over 0.2 inches (5 mm) as they jump. Avoid with aggressive tank mates.
What are the exact marine water parameters for Purple Firefish?
Target pH 8.1 - 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 - 1.025 (35-35.5 ppt), General Hardness 7 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 8 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 32,000 - 35,000 ppm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). They require plenty of live rock bolts and crevices where they can retreat when startled. Maintain nitrates below 10 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a protein skimmer. Stable salinity is critical; fluctuations >0.002 cause stress.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Purple Firefish?
They are planktivores requiring 55% protein, 15% fat, 30% algae. Feed frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and fine marine flakes twice daily. Supplement with cyclops. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.15 mg/L Cupramine) but sensitive to hyposalinity below 1.018. Praziquantel is safe. Quarantine with chloroquine phosphate (15 mg/L) for 14 days. Avoid formalin.
How to breed Purple Firefish in captivity?
Breeding is very rare. Condition a bonded pair with frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp for 4 weeks. They are burrow spawners; the pair excavates a cave under live rock. Spawning occurs in the burrow; female lays 50-150 adhesive eggs. Male guards and fans eggs for 5-7 days at 75°F (24°C). Eggs hatch; larvae require rotifers and phytoplankton for 30-40 days. Not recommended for hobbyists.

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