Nemateleotris Magnifica
Scientific name: Nemateleotris Magnifica
Common name: Fire Goby, Fire Fish, Fire Dartfish, or Red Fire Goby
Habitat: sands or corals
Depth: 5-60 meters
Size: up to 8-10 centimeters
Characteristics: belonging to the family of the Microdesmidi, these very particular and graceful fishes are characterised by a first spine of the dorsal very long and thin that usually the Nemateleotris Magnifica holds upright like a banner.
The position they take is always very tilted with respect to the bottom of the sea (sand or detrital), where they hunt plankton.
While the front part of the body is whitish, the back is bright red (hence the name).
The muzzle has an intense yellow area.
Very shy, the Nemateleotris Magnifica hide quickly if disturbed.
In the adult phase the fish usually lives in pairs or alone while in young phase can be find in small groups.
Origin: widespread from the coasts of East Africa to southern Japan, New Guinea and northern Australia.
Behavior: it is a quiet, peaceful and quite sociable species that can be breeded in small groups.
In the aquarium: it is a fish not difficult to breed, but very sensitive to changes in temperature or chemical values of water. It is also sensitive to presence of more aggressive or lively fish.
The ideal water temperature must be between 24 °C and 27 °C, density between 1022 and 1024 and pH around 8.2-8.4.
It requires an aquarium of at least 200 liters to be able to breed a couple, or 300 liters to breed a group of four or five fishes. The Nemateleotris Magnifica loves swimming in the lower end of the aquarium. It is an ideal host in the tanks dedicated to invertebrates.
Feeding: in nature Nemateleotris Magnifica eats mainly small crustaceans, but can easily become accustomed to eat dried flakes and granules, even if the main diet should consist mainly of frozen artemia and mysis.
