Nemateleotris helfrichi

Helfrichs Goby ( Nemateleotris helfrichi )

Helfrichs Goby ( Nemateleotris helfrichi ) is a type of Pfeilgrundeln ( Ptereleotridae ). She lives in the western tropical Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands to the Tuamotu Palau and Samoa, in depths of 25 to 90 meters of reef slopes and at the base of outer reefs on sandy, rocky and rubble bottoms. They prefer deeper water than their relatives and are rarely seen above 40 meters.

The fish are six inches long and have an elongated body with a long two-part dorsal fin and a long anal fin. The anterior rays of the first dorsal fin are elongated form of flags.

Fins formula: Dorsal 1 VI, dorsal 2 I/29-31, Anal I/26-28.

Helfrichs Schwertgrundeln live in pairs and are monogamous. Mostly they are a few feet above the ground in the flow and catch their zooplankton, particularly from shrimp larvae and copepods existing food. In case of danger, the animals move quickly back to a cave.

Like the other two members of the genus Nemateleotris is captured for the purpose of aquarium maintenance Helfrichs Goby. In the aquarium, the fish are shy and should not be kept together with lively larger fish. From a larger group after some time, only one pair is left. Helfrichs Schwertgrundeln are short-lived and only two to three years old.