Helfrich's firefish

Helfrich's firefish is a small, elegant dartfish of the family Microdesmidae (Ptereleotrinae), found on deeper reef slopes of the central Pacific, particularly around Hawaii and other oceanic islands. It has a pale lavender-pink body grading to yellow on the head, topped with a violet crown, and is among the most prized and expensive of the firefishes. It is a shy, peaceful fish that hovers just above the substrate and darts into a burrow when alarmed. It can be kept singly or as a bonded pair, but is easily bullied by boisterous tankmates. A calm reef aquarium with a tight-fitting lid is essential, as it is a notorious jumper. It is a planktivore that feeds on zooplankton drifting in the current, and in captivity it needs frequent small feedings of mysis, enriched brine shrimp and fine frozen foods. It is fully reef-safe.