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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes—“dartfish” are real fish. The word refers to several marine ray-finned fishes, including Myxodagnus belone and species in the dartfish family Microdesmidae. “Darts” by itself usually means sporting equipment, so the fish name is normally written as dartfish or dartfishes.
What is a dartfish?
Dartfish is a common name, not one single species. Taxonomic databases use it for fish from more than one lineage. The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) lists Myxodagnus belone as a valid species with the English common name “dartfish.” Its classification runs through Vertebrata, Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and Teleostei (modern bony fishes), in the family Dactyloscopidae.
Other fish called dartfish belong to Microdesmidae. ITIS lists Ptereleotris calliura as blue dartfish, while Australia’s CSIRO records Ptereleotris hanae and Ptereleotris zebra in Microdesmidae, whose common name includes “dartfishes.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also identifies Myxodagnus belone as dartfish.
Examples of fish called dartfish
| Common name | Scientific name | Family | What is established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartfish | Myxodagnus belone | Dactyloscopidae | ITIS lists it as a valid ray-finned fish species; detailed habitat, size and aquarium information is not stated in the cited records. |
| Blue dartfish | Ptereleotris calliura | Microdesmidae | Listed by ITIS; the cited record does not provide a complete care or habitat profile. |
| Dartfish | Ptereleotris hanae | Microdesmidae | Recorded by CSIRO’s CAAB system among Pisces fishes. |
| Dartfish | Ptereleotris zebra | Microdesmidae | Recorded by CSIRO’s CAAB system among Pisces fishes. |
| Fire dartfish | Nemateleotris magnifica | Not stated in the cited FAO account | A reef-associated species described by FAO as a popular aquarium fish. |
Because the common name covers multiple species, you should not assume that one dartfish’s size, temperament or care requirements apply to every other species.
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Are dartfish freshwater or saltwater?
The dartfish described in the available species accounts are marine fish. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Fishes of the Maldives account places fire dartfish (Nemateleotris magnifica) on reef slopes, where it hovers above burrows in sandy patches. That means a fire dartfish belongs in a properly maintained saltwater marine aquarium, not a freshwater tank.
How fire dartfish live
FAO reports that fire dartfish occur at depths of 6–60 metres and usually live in pairs. They hover above a burrow and retreat into it when threatened. Their food is zooplankton, including copepods and crustacean larvae. The same 2003 account gives a maximum size of 8 cm and records 27–30 anal-fin rays and 28–32 second-dorsal-fin rays.
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This hovering-and-diving behavior explains the “dart” part of the common name: the fish can shoot rapidly into its shelter. It does not refer to the darts used in a pub or competitive game.
Can you keep dartfish in an aquarium?
Some dartfish can be kept in marine aquariums. FAO specifically describes fire dartfish as “a popular aquarium fish.” An aquarium should be planned for the exact species, because “dartfish” includes several unrelated or distantly related fish with potentially different behavior and care needs.
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- Confirm the scientific name before buying; a shop’s label of “dartfish” is not specific enough by itself.
- Provide a marine system appropriate to that species rather than a freshwater setup.
- Account for burrowing or retreat behavior where the species uses a shelter in sand or rock.
- Match feeding to the species’ natural diet; fire dartfish feed on small planktonic animals.
- Do not assume that a fire dartfish’s reported 8 cm maximum size or pair behavior applies to every dartfish.
The cited sources establish aquarium popularity for fire dartfish, but they do not provide a universal tank size, compatibility chart or single care recipe for all dartfish species.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Dartfish versus darts
Dartfish is the biological term for these fishes. Darts alone normally means the pointed sporting equipment and the game played with it. If someone asks whether “darts” are fish, the accurate clarification is that dartfish are fish; sporting darts are not.
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