Fire Coral Guardian - Neocirrhites armatus
Ever since I first saw the fire coral guardian , I've been a huge fan of this fish. The Neocirrhites armatus , its Latin name, isn't always easy to come by here. It's usually imported from Hawaii, like many other amazing fish. Its gaze is always following you, and its curious nature is beyond adorable. It's always trying to keep track of what's going on in the aquarium.
Behavior and appearance
Its intense red color adds just the right touch of color to the tank. This robust fish usually costs three times as much as other coral guardian species in stores. Nevertheless, you shouldn't be afraid of the expense and should snap it up immediately if you find it at a retailer... otherwise, someone else will quickly do it.
Initially a bit shy, this will fade over time once the Fire Coral Guardian gets used to the tank. This amazing fish looks like a small football: bright red with black shading along the dorsal fin. With consistent water parameters and proper feeding, the bright red color will remain. A balanced diet should always be maintained.
food
N. armatus is not picky about its food. In the wild, its diet consists primarily of small crustaceans, which it hunts. Like most other fish, it eats frozen food species such as brine shrimp, mysis, and krill. It readily accepts flake food and pellets. Feeding once or twice a day is perfectly sufficient.
In the pool
The fire coral guard doesn't require quite as much open swimming space as other fish. It typically lives on the bottom, in rocks, or in corals. It moves by hopping from place to place, swimming in short bursts since it lacks a swim bladder. It cannot therefore cover long distances.
As with all other species, you should be careful with this coral guard, as it can easily jump out of the tank. It likes to seek out high rocks, corals, or even current pumps to get a better view. This can be quite amusing and rivals Spider-Man ;o)
When fully grown, the coral guardian is approximately 10-12 cm long. In my opinion, this fish can be kept in aquariums of 200 liters or larger without any problems. However, it's important to ensure that it has low elevations and quieter areas that will initially serve as hiding places.
In society
It's not difficult to keep with other fish and can be considered a community fish. I've never experienced any attacks. However, it's important to keep it with shrimp and invertebrates. These shouldn't be too small, as they could otherwise be considered a potential food source. The cardinal shrimp and cleaner shrimp in my tank have never been attacked. The fire coral guard should be kept small, so attacks on invertebrates are unlikely.
As for the companionship of multiple Neocirrhites armatus in one tank, that's not an easy question to answer. Distinguishing between males and females is actually impossible. There are theories, but they're all rather vague. If your dealer has two or more fire coral guards in a tank, see if two of them often spend time together. Then there's a good chance the two will get along well in your tank. I have two N. armatus hopping around in my tank, and so far, I haven't observed any aggression. The size of the tank will certainly play a role, as it does with many other fish.
A very beautiful fish that will bring a lot of joy to the owner and also brings color to the saltwater aquarium with its bright red.
Synonym: Neocirrhitus armatus Castelnau, 1873