Purple Firefish

Looks how to spot one

Slender dartfish with a tall first dorsal fin

A slim, elegant fish with a purple head, a pale white to yellowish body that darkens toward the tail, and fins banded in purple, red, black and orange.23

Personality what they are like

Usually gentle with other fish but can squabble with its own kind unless the two are a mated pair. Quick to dart into a hole if alarmed.321

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Hovers near the bottom to catch passing food and retreats to shelter when startled.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide rockwork and loose coral rubble for shelter and a secure lid, since it is a strong jumper. A varied, vitamin-enriched diet helps it keep its strong colours.23

Home where they are happiest

Minimum about 20 US gallons (76 L), suitable for reef and nano reef tanks. In the wild it lives deeper than the common firefish, mostly 25 to 70 m, near reef drop-offs with moderate to strong currents.321

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Carnivore that eats zooplankton such as copepods and crustacean larvae in the wild. Offer chopped seafood, frozen carnivore foods, mysis and enriched brine shrimp.13

Company who they like around

Usually seen in pairs and monogamous. Keep singly or as a mated pair.123

The story where it all began

John Randall and Gerald Allen described the species in 1973. The name decora comes from the Latin for elegant or beautiful. Some researchers treat the western Indian Ocean form as a separate species, Nemateleotris exquisita.412

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 2015)1