How related are they?
Same genus, Nemateleotris (Firefishes): very close cousins
They split at the species level: the Purple Firefish belongs to Nemateleotris decora (Purple Firefish), the Firefish Goby to Nemateleotris magnifica (Firefish Goby).
Find the Purple Firefish on the tree · Find the Firefish Goby on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Purple Firefish | Firefish Goby |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Gobiiformes Gobies and kin | |
| Suborder | Gobioidei gobies and sleepers | |
| Family | Gobiidae Gobies | |
| Subfamily | Ptereleotrinae dartfishes | |
| Genus | Nemateleotris Firefishes | |
| Species split | Nemateleotris decora Purple Firefish | Nemateleotris magnifica Firefish Goby |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Purple Firefish | Firefish Goby |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Firefish | Fish · Firefish |
| Care level | Easy | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Favorite foods | Frozen mysis shrimp, Vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Frozen copepods or Calanus | Frozen mysis shrimp, Vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Frozen copepods or Calanus |
| Max size | 3.5 in (9 cm) | 3 in (7.6 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–20 ppm | 0–20 ppm |
| Lifespan | Not scientifically documented; a hobby guide gives about 3 years, and longer is possible with good care. | Not scientifically documented. Hobby sources suggest roughly 3 years for Nemateleotris firefish, and losses are usually from jumping or bullying rather than old age. |
| Breeding | Hard | Very hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |