Elegant firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

Latin name

Nemateleotris decora

Other names

Nemateleotris decora, purple firefish.

Identification

Slender, brightly coloured fish. 

Features of fish fins

The dorsal fin has 7 spines and 27 to 32 soft rays, while the anal fin has a single spike and 28 to 31 soft rays. 

Fish colouring

The head is purple and the body colour is whitish or yellowish, gradually darkening to dark grey towards the tail. The fins have longitudinal stripes of purple, red, black and orange.

Distribution

They inhabit the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia. 

Habitat

It inhabits hard, open reef bottoms, sandy areas and rubble, and the deeper nearshore cliffs of outer reefs where there are strong currents, at depths of 25 to 70 m (82-230 ft). 

Size

It reaches a maximum length of 9 cm.

Behavior

This species is often found in pairs and is monogamous. When alarmed, the fish rush into burrows.

Food and feeding habits

Feeds on zooplankton, especially larval paddlefish and crustaceans.

Reproduction

This species sometimes spawns in captivity. Monogamous mating is considered obligatory and social.

Fishing

It has no commercial value.

Relationship with a person

This fish is popular in reef aquariums.