Purple Firefish

Purple Firefish

Nemateleotris decora

Also known as: Decorated Firefish, Elegant Firefish

🧂 Saltwater ✌️ Peaceful 🟢 Easy 🥩 Carnivore Reef Safe

A gorgeous relative of the common firefish, featuring a white body with rich purple, red, and orange markings on the head and a striking multicolored dorsal fin. More colorful than the standard firefish.

Tank Size

20 gal
minimum (30+ preferred)

Temperature

74–82°F
23–28°C

pH Range

8–8.4
water acidity

Max Size

3.5"
8.9 cm

Lifespan

3-5 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Middle
preferred zone

Care Notes

Must have a tight-fitting lid to prevent jumping. Provide plenty of hiding spots. Peaceful but may be aggressive toward other firefish species in smaller tanks.

Feeding

Frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and quality marine pellets. Easy to feed.

Compatible Tank Mates

Blue Green Chromis 3" Pink Skunk Clownfish 3.5" Skunk Clownfish 4" Orange Skunk Clownfish 4.5" Talbot's Damselfish 2.5" Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse 3" Melanurus Wrasse 5" Cleaner Wrasse 4" Yellow Coris Wrasse 5" Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse 3" Firefish Goby 3" Yellow Watchman Goby 4"

Use Caution With

Ocellaris Clownfish 3" True Percula Clownfish 3" Yellowtail Damselfish 2.5" Blue Tang 12" Yellow Tang 8" Kole Tang 7" Clarkii Clownfish 5" Tomato Clownfish 5" Scopas Tang 8" Convict Tang 8" Azure Damselfish 2.5" Springer's Damselfish 2"

Incompatible With

Maroon Clownfish 6" Blue Devil Damselfish 3" Powder Blue Tang 9" Naso Tang 18" Achilles Tang 10" Purple Tang 10" Three Stripe Damselfish 3" Domino Damselfish 5" Four Stripe Damselfish 3" Jewel Damselfish 6" Clown Tang 15" Catalina Goby 2.5"

Check Compatibility

Want to check if Purple Firefish is compatible with a specific fish? Use our compatibility checker to build your complete tank.