🐠 Fire Dartfish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
A Yellow Head, White Front Half, and Fiery Orange-Red Rear • An Elegant Flicking Dorsal Fin • A Determined Jumper Needing a Secure Lid
 
📋 The Fire Dartfish, also known as the Firefish Goby or Magnificent Dartfish, has a striking gradient body, a yellow head, white front half, and a fiery orange-red rear half, with an elongated first dorsal fin edged in black that it flicks back and forth to communicate.
It comes from outer reef slopes and drop-offs across the wide Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii, hovering just above its burrow facing into the current, snapping up passing zooplankton before darting backward into hiding at the first sign of danger. Every Fire Dartfish we ship is feeding well.
This species is almost guaranteed to jump from an uncovered tank, so a secure lid is essential, not optional. It's also worth knowing that two unpaired Fire Dartfish will fight, sometimes to the death, so only house more than one as a confirmed bonded pair. New arrivals commonly hide extensively at first, this is completely normal, and it becomes a bold, constantly visible fish once it feels settled and secure. It's fully reef safe and won't harm corals or invertebrates. It reaches up to 9cm, so a 75L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Striking Yellow-to-Red Gradient: Distinctive colouration with an elegant flicking dorsal fin
⚠️ A Jumping Risk: A secure lid is essential for this species
🌿 Fully Reef Safe: Won't harm corals or invertebrates
🏖️ Needs a Burrow: Requires a sand-and-rubble substrate several inches deep
🧠 Beginner Friendly: Hardy and peaceful once settled and confident