Purple Firefish Goby

Purple Firefish Goby

How to Care for Azure Damsel
written by Dave Burr
Behavior:

The Purple Firefish Goby is a great choice for reef aquariums both large and small. It is a brilliant beginner’s fish that will be sure to dazzle you as it darts about.

The Purple Firefish Goby is quite docile and should not bother its tank mates except for other firefish. It is best kept either singly or as a pair. Make sure to provide several hiding places for it to retreat to. Keep a lid on your aquarium because the firefish is likely to try to jump out.

Feeding:

Offer the Purple Firefish Goby a mixed diet of mysis shrimp and zooplankton 4-6 times per week. Soaking all fish food with vitamins will help keep your fish healthier and make them less susceptible to disease. We recommend soaking food in garlic as well when adding new fish and whenever your notice ich or other disease in the aquarium. Garlic will help repel external parasites and will boost the fishes immunity.

Feeding Tips:

Remember to feed slowly. Leftover food will cause nitrates and phosphates to rise. If you see food falling to the sand bed and into the rocks, you should feed slower and give the fish a chance to eat before adding a little more. Using a turkey baster allows you to target food to different fish. For example you can feed the aggressive fish on one side of the tank and then squirt a little bit on the other side for the less aggressive fish. This way all the fish get a chance to eat enough.

Maximum Length:
3"
Care Level:
Easy
Family:
Gobiidae
Reef Compatibility:
Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size:
20 gal.
Origin:
Indonesia, Indian Ocean
Diet:
Carnivore
Water Conditions:

75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry:

Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Purple Firefish Goby happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh – run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing), and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.