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Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Coral Reef

Cichlid

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Difficulty Level

Intermediate Care

A stunning and rare firefish with an ethereal mix of violet, yellow, and white, the Helfrichi Firefish is a peaceful nano reef favorite. Known for its hovering behavior and shy demeanor, it adds elegance and subtle color to small marine tanks.

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Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Coral Reef

Cichlid

Save

Pro

Share

Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Coral Reef

Cichlid

Save

Difficulty Level

Intermediate Care

A stunning and rare firefish with an ethereal mix of violet, yellow, and white, the Helfrichi Firefish is a peaceful nano reef favorite. Known for its hovering behavior and shy demeanor, it adds elegance and subtle color to small marine tanks.

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Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Core Details

Highlights

Care Level

0

/ 10

Needs stable water, a covered tank, and calm tankmates to thrive. Sensitive to stress and aggression.

Environment Impact

0

/ 10

Often wild-caught due to limited captive breeding, but low numbers collected. Choose sustainably sourced specimens.

Origin
Found in deeper reef slopes of the Indo-Pacific, especially around the Marshall Islands, Tahiti, and French Polynesia at depths between 30–70 meters.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Its body shifts from pale lavender to bright white, capped with a vibrant yellow head and violet facial accents. It hovers near rockwork and darts into hiding at sudden movement, making it a graceful but reserved addition.

Purpose
Offers movement and contrast in nano and peaceful reef tanks. Often one of the first fish visible in the morning, creating a gentle, reef-dwelling presence.

Importance
Highly prized for its coloration and gentle temperament. Popular in high-end reef tanks or species-specific nano systems.

Included Resources
Requires a tight-fitting lid (expert jumper), gentle flow, moderate lighting, and plenty of rockwork or caves to retreat. Water quality must be pristine with low nitrate levels.

Best Use Cases
Excellent in nano reefs, peaceful community reef tanks, or dedicated goby/firefish tanks. Ideal with small inverts and soft corals. Best housed singly or as a bonded pair.

Conservation Context
Populations are stable but vulnerable to overcollection in narrow ranges. Captive-breeding efforts exist but are still rare. Choose reputable sources to reduce wild impact.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• Sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
• Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
• Small peaceful gobies
• Royal grammas and dartfish
• Soft coral tanks (zoanthids, mushrooms)

Region (A)
• Latitude: 7.1156° N
• Longitude: 171.1857° E
(Marshall Islands — reef slopes)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -17.6797° S
• Longitude: -149.4068° W
(Tahiti — deeper outer reef regions)

How Many Can I Keep?

Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.

e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)

Pro

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Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Core Details

Highlights

Care Level

0

/ 10

Needs stable water, a covered tank, and calm tankmates to thrive. Sensitive to stress and aggression.

Environment Impact

0

/ 10

Often wild-caught due to limited captive breeding, but low numbers collected. Choose sustainably sourced specimens.

Origin
Found in deeper reef slopes of the Indo-Pacific, especially around the Marshall Islands, Tahiti, and French Polynesia at depths between 30–70 meters.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Its body shifts from pale lavender to bright white, capped with a vibrant yellow head and violet facial accents. It hovers near rockwork and darts into hiding at sudden movement, making it a graceful but reserved addition.

Purpose
Offers movement and contrast in nano and peaceful reef tanks. Often one of the first fish visible in the morning, creating a gentle, reef-dwelling presence.

Importance
Highly prized for its coloration and gentle temperament. Popular in high-end reef tanks or species-specific nano systems.

Included Resources
Requires a tight-fitting lid (expert jumper), gentle flow, moderate lighting, and plenty of rockwork or caves to retreat. Water quality must be pristine with low nitrate levels.

Best Use Cases
Excellent in nano reefs, peaceful community reef tanks, or dedicated goby/firefish tanks. Ideal with small inverts and soft corals. Best housed singly or as a bonded pair.

Conservation Context
Populations are stable but vulnerable to overcollection in narrow ranges. Captive-breeding efforts exist but are still rare. Choose reputable sources to reduce wild impact.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• Sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
• Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
• Small peaceful gobies
• Royal grammas and dartfish
• Soft coral tanks (zoanthids, mushrooms)

Region (A)
• Latitude: 7.1156° N
• Longitude: 171.1857° E
(Marshall Islands — reef slopes)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -17.6797° S
• Longitude: -149.4068° W
(Tahiti — deeper outer reef regions)

How Many Can I Keep?

Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.

e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)

Pro

Pro gives you more—expert care, rich insights, AI care tools –

Get Pro

Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Core Details

Highlights

Care Level

0

/ 10

Needs stable water, a covered tank, and calm tankmates to thrive. Sensitive to stress and aggression.

Environment Impact

0

/ 10

Often wild-caught due to limited captive breeding, but low numbers collected. Choose sustainably sourced specimens.

Origin
Found in deeper reef slopes of the Indo-Pacific, especially around the Marshall Islands, Tahiti, and French Polynesia at depths between 30–70 meters.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Its body shifts from pale lavender to bright white, capped with a vibrant yellow head and violet facial accents. It hovers near rockwork and darts into hiding at sudden movement, making it a graceful but reserved addition.

Purpose
Offers movement and contrast in nano and peaceful reef tanks. Often one of the first fish visible in the morning, creating a gentle, reef-dwelling presence.

Importance
Highly prized for its coloration and gentle temperament. Popular in high-end reef tanks or species-specific nano systems.

Included Resources
Requires a tight-fitting lid (expert jumper), gentle flow, moderate lighting, and plenty of rockwork or caves to retreat. Water quality must be pristine with low nitrate levels.

Best Use Cases
Excellent in nano reefs, peaceful community reef tanks, or dedicated goby/firefish tanks. Ideal with small inverts and soft corals. Best housed singly or as a bonded pair.

Conservation Context
Populations are stable but vulnerable to overcollection in narrow ranges. Captive-breeding efforts exist but are still rare. Choose reputable sources to reduce wild impact.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• Sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
• Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
• Small peaceful gobies
• Royal grammas and dartfish
• Soft coral tanks (zoanthids, mushrooms)

Region (A)
• Latitude: 7.1156° N
• Longitude: 171.1857° E
(Marshall Islands — reef slopes)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -17.6797° S
• Longitude: -149.4068° W
(Tahiti — deeper outer reef regions)

How Many Can I Keep?

Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.

e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)

Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

Region

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