Dartfish

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
fast facts

About Dartfish

Size
Small
Group
Saltwater
Temperament
Non-aggressive
Aquarium Size
Medium (30 gal)
Swimming Region
Middle
Fish Water Condition
Suitable Tank Mates
Anthias, Blennies, Clownfish, Gobies and Hawkfish
Difficulty Of Care
Weekly care
Dartfish General description


Dartfish are a family of small, extremely colorful saltwater fish. They are similar in appearance to gobies and are characterized by their long, eel-like bodies and split dorsal fins. Dartfishes are a fairly hardy species of fish and adapt quite readily to life in an aquarium. This makes them an excellent choice for most beginner and novice aquarists. They are also highly intelligent and have been a staple in the marine aquarium hobby for decades.


Dartfish are a family of small, extremely colorful saltwater fish.


Origins


Dartfishes originate from the Indo-Pacific Ocean


Color


Most species of dartfish are vibrantly colored and come in dazzling shades of red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green and black.


Maintenance and care
Dartfishes are a fairly small species of fish and most aquarium varieties only reach a length of around 4 inches. This makes them excellent choices for most nano-reef aquariums. They thrive in aquariums with large swimming spaces as well as plenty of hiding places. These fish also prefer aquariums with sufficient live rock and a soft substrate into which they can burrow.


Dartfish are a peaceful species of fish and do best when kept in groups of 4 or more. They also make excellent additions to most community aquariums. However, they should not be housed with larger, more aggressive tank mates that could harass or prey on them. If kept with larger, more aggressive tank mates, dartfish can sometimes stay hidden for long periods of time and eventually end up starving to death.


They are known jumpers and should be housed in aquariums equipped with tight fitting lids. They are also easily startled and can attempt to jump out of an aquarium in flashes of panic.


Feeding


Dartfish are carnivores and should be fed on a varied diet of live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and krill. They will also readily accept most flake based foods.


Dartfish are a fairly small species of fish and most aquarium varieties only reach a length of around 4 inches.


Breeding


Dartfish are an egg-laying, parental species of fish and care for their spawns. There are numerous reports of dartfish spawning in caves and crevices of aquarium setups, but there is little information regarding the task of raising the fry.


Aquarium varieties


Firefish, Blue Gudgeon Dartfishes, Scissortail Dartfishes, Zebra Barred Dartfishes, etc.


Photo credit: Lonnie Huffman/ Wikimedia; TANAKA Juuyoh/ Wikimedia
Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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