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Helfrich's Firefish
Firefish

Helfrich's Firefish

Nemateleotris helfrichi

The pastel, deep-water jewel of the firefish trio — lavender-and-yellow, more delicate and more expensive than its cousins because it comes from 25–90 m reefs. It is peaceful and shy, hovering just above the rock and darting for a hole at any disturbance, and it needs calm tankmates so it isn't bullied out of feeding. Like all firefish it is an enthusiastic jumper; a tight lid is non-negotiable. Keep one, or a bonded pair.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
2.4"
Min tank
20 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Mid-water, Surface, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Helfrich's Firefish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Coral HawkfishSame ambush risk as the other firefish, and Helfrich's is the shyest of the group — it will simply stop leaving the rock.Midas BlennyMidas Blenny (semi-aggressive, ~13 cm open-water swimmer) harasses slender firefish. LiveAquaria explicitly: "known to nip at firefish and gobies."Purple FirefishHelfrich's Firefish and Purple Firefish are the same genus (Nemateleotris) and will fight — keep only one.FirefishHelfrich's Firefish and Firefish are the same genus (Nemateleotris) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Fourline WrasseDartfish and firefish are documented as frequent victims of even small Pseudocheilinus wrasses. Helfrich's Firefish is delicate enough that constant chasing usually ends it.Neon DottybackNeon Dottybacks are documented as harassing small, timid fish until they are bullied to death. Helfrich's Firefish is about as timid as reef fish get.Royal DottybackHelfrich's Firefish is the shyest and most expensive of the firefish, and the Royal Dottyback is documented as attacking exactly this kind of placid fish. A poor and costly combination.Domino DamselA maturing domino damsel bullies small, shy firefish; the delicate Helfrich's firefish is quickly outcompeted and stressed.Falco HawkfishA 6 cm firefish is a shy perch/burrow fish the Falco will harass and can eat.Marine BettaA 6 cm firefish fits the Betta’s gape; firefish are named among fish this ambush predator swallows overnight.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Yellow TangYellow Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Keyhole AngelfishKeyhole Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Powder Brown TangPowder Brown Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Square AnthiasSquare Anthias (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Valentini PufferA shy long-finned firefish is a documented fin-nip victim of this puffer.Blue-Throat TriggerfishBlue-Throat Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.