Species Profiles

Here you will find an ever-growing library of species information profiles for most commonly available fish, coral and invertebrates.  Check back for regular additions to our library!

Firefish

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Species Common Name: Firefish, Fire Goby, Fire Dartfish, Magnificent Dartfish.

Species Scientific Name: Nemateleotris magnifica.

Species Highlights: Wonderful little fish that will fit in a nano tank as well as a huge reef system. Colorful and hardy. Typically grows to 2".

Reef Safe: Yes.

Compatability: Timid - will not bother other fish and should only be kept with passive fish.

Social: Keep singly unless in large system over 100 gallons.

Feeding Requirements: Easy to feed. Marine Cuisine, Emerald Entree, PE Mysis, small pellet or flake supplement every other day.

Sexual Dimorphic: No.

Personal Tips: Every reef system should have one. Easily spooked so best in a system with a fully enclosed hood or canopy. Resist the urge to buy in groups as they are NOT a schooling fish and one individual will end up harassing others.

Foxface Rabbitfish

Species Common Name: Foxface, Foxface rabbitfish.

Species Scientific Name: Siganus vulpinus.

Species Highlights: Attractive and hardy member of the rabbitfish family. Grows to appx 8-9". Venomous spines - use caution. Known as rabbitfish due to their hearty appetite for algae matter - green micro/macro algae is their favorite and are well suited to algae-ridden reef systems. Often a better choice than surgeonfish for algae control.

Reef Safe: Yes.

Compatability: Should fair well with most fish.

Social: Keep singly.

Feeding Requirements: Does well on algae-heavy diets such as Emerald Entree, fed once per day. Keep sheet of Nori in the tank at all times unless you have a good supply of fresh algae available.

Sexual Dimorphic: None.

Personal Tips: A great addition to larger reef tank, typically less territorial and hardier than most tangs/surgeonfish. As noted in the image above, rabbitfish have the ability to greatly change their color and pattern, in a very chameleon-like way. This pattern is typically visible when the fish is under stress, and when the stressor is removed the fish resumes it's normal coloration.

Green Mandarinfish


Species Common Name: Green mandarin, psychedelic mandarin, mandarin dragonette, psychedelic dragonette, striped mandarin goby.

Species Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus.

Species Highlights: One of the most sought after small reef fish due to it's striking colors and patterns.  Grows to about 3". The casual aquarist often learns too late that this fish is one of the hardest to keep in captivity. There are some strict guidelines to follow before selecting this fish for your tank, namely providing enough live rock and macro algae to support the live copepod food source this fish requires. Exudes a slime that is said to protect from fish predation.

Reef Safe: Yes.

Compatability: Gets along well with all other fish as long as they are not competing for the same live food source (sixline wrasses, small hogfish) and are not overly aggressive (some dottybacks.)

Social: Keep singly unless you have a pair.

Feeding Requirements: Most specimens will only accept live food. You can supplement with live brine or black worms, but this is a temporary measure. This fish requires live copepods and amphipods and to supply enough of this prey you must have an established reef system with at least 40lbs of live rock as well as macro algae. Some fish do eventually take frozen brine or mysid shrimp, but those are the exception not the rule.

Sexual Dimorphic: Slightly. Small fin differences distinguish male from female.

Personal Tips: I would not recommend this fish for beginners, in nano tanks, or without ample live rock. New live foods such as Reef Nutrition Tigger Pods are an important supplement to keeping this fish fat and happy and we recommend adding a bottle every couple of months to restock the 'pod' population in your tank.

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