Helfrich's Firefish

With its pale lilac body, yellowish head and purple-magenta face, Helfrich's firefish is the rarest of the firefish. In the wild it usually lives on reef slopes below 25 meters; because it is collected from deep water it is expensive and sensitive to shipping stress. Once it has adapted to the aquarium it is cared for like its relatives: peaceful companions, plenty of hiding places and a tight lid.

• At least 75 liters for a single specimen or a pair.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• Shaded corners and rock cracks it can use as a burrow.
• A fully closed or mesh lid is essential.

Carnivorous; it feeds on plankton. Offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and fine granule food as small meals 2–3 times a day.

Very peaceful and shy; it may spend its first days hiding. It is territorial towards its own species and other firefish; keep a single specimen or a mated pair.

Good companions: Neon goby, shrimp gobies, cardinalfish, calm blennies, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Dottybacks, aggressive damsels, hawkfish, other firefish (in a small aquarium), large predators.