Firefish Goby

Nemateleotris magnifica

The Firefish is one of the most sought-after nano reef fish, displaying a creamy white body that dramatically fades into vivid shades of orange, red, and magenta toward the tail. Shy and easily startled, it hovers just above the substrate near a bolt-hole and will dart into rockwork or even leap from an open tank — a secure lid is essential. Best kept singly or as a mated pair in a peaceful reef community.

TemperamentPeaceful

Max Size3"

Care LevelEasy

CategoryGoby

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Compatibility Chart for Firefish Goby

See how Firefish Goby gets along with every other species in our database.

Great Match (20)

Yellow Tang Great Tang ignores firefish completely Ocellaris Clownfish Great Both peaceful - excellent combo True Percula Clownfish Great Both peaceful Fairy Wrasse Great Both peaceful - great combo Yellowspotted Wrasse Great Both peaceful; no conflict Clown Goby Great Both peaceful, different zones Yellow Watchman Goby Great Different zones - great match Mandarin Dragonet Great Both peaceful bottom/mid dwellers Copperband Butterflyfish Great Both peaceful Midas Blenny Great Both peaceful; beautiful together Pajama Cardinalfish Great Beautiful peaceful tank Convict Tang Great No conflict at all Tomini Tang Great Both peaceful Foxface Rabbitfish Great Foxface ignores small fish One Spot Foxface Great Peaceful Masked Rabbitfish Great Peaceful Skunk Cleaner Shrimp Great Peaceful coexistence Hammer Coral Great Reef safe Zoanthids Great No issues at all Acropora Great Completely reef safe

Compatible (49)

Blue Hippo Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Powder Blue Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Kole Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Naso Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Flame Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species Coral Beauty Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species French Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species Cleaner Wrasse Compatible No known issues between these species Green Chromis Compatible No known issues between these species Raccoon Butterflyfish Compatible No known issues between these species Longnose Butterflyfish Compatible No known issues between these species Tailspot Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Lawnmower Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Bicolor Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Royal Gramma Compatible May compete for hiding spots Banggai Cardinalfish Compatible No known issues between these species Purple Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Scopas Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Achilles Tang Compatible Different zones Magnificent Foxface Compatible No known issues between these species Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible Keep firefish away; BTA can sting Magnificent Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Long Tentacle Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Sebae Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Chicago Sunburst BTA Compatible No known issues between these species Rose Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Colorado Sunburst BTA Compatible No known issues between these species Fire Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Peppermint Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Tiger Pistol Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Sexy Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Emerald Crab Compatible No known issues between these species Blue Leg Hermit Crab Compatible No known issues between these species Turbo Snail Compatible No known issues between these species Nassarius Snail Compatible No known issues between these species Tuxedo Urchin Compatible No known issues between these species Red Fromia Starfish Compatible No known issues between these species Torch Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Frogspawn Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Mushroom Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Ricordea Florida Compatible No known issues between these species Ricordea Yuma Compatible No known issues between these species Bounce Mushroom Compatible No known issues between these species Green Star Polyps Compatible No known issues between these species Pulsing Xenia Compatible No known issues between these species Montipora Compatible No known issues between these species Leather Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Duncan Coral Compatible No known issues between these species

Somewhat Compatible (4)

Clarkii Clownfish Somewhat Compatible Clarkii may bully timid firefish Melanurus Wrasse Somewhat Compatible May harass firefish; stressful but not usually lethal Longnose Hawkfish Somewhat Compatible Longnose less aggressive but still risky Clown Tang Somewhat Compatible Clown tang may bully small fish

Risky (11)

Maroon Clownfish Risky Maroon may terrorize timid firefish Emperor Angelfish Risky Emperor may eat small goby Six Line Wrasse Risky Six line notorious for bullying firefish Blue Devil Damselfish Risky Damsel will terrorize the firefish Yellowtail Damselfish Risky Damsel will bully timid firefish Flame Hawkfish Risky Hawkfish may eat small gobies Sohal Tang Risky Sohal will terrorize timid firefish Niger Triggerfish Risky Niger may eat small fish when large Bluechin Triggerfish Risky Small fish at risk Pinktail Triggerfish Risky Small fish at risk Rhodactis Mushroom Risky Large rhodactis can eat small fish!

Not Compatible (8)

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark Not Compatible Easy prey for shark Epaulette Shark Not Compatible Easy prey Horn Shark Not Compatible Wrong temp; will eat them Coral Catshark Not Compatible Will eat small gobies at night Picasso Triggerfish Not Compatible Trigger will eat the firefish Clown Triggerfish Not Compatible Clown trigger eats everything small Undulate Triggerfish Not Compatible Undulate eats small fish Carpet Anemone Not Compatible Carpet anemone will catch and eat firefish

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