Dottybacks :
Dottybacks—Choose Carefully!
Courtesy to : www.tfhmagazine.com
Author: Bob Goemans Issue: November 2008
A colorful and mellow visage hides the aggressive truth—these popular fishes are some of the biggest bullies out there! If you don’t believe in fish with an ego, just wait until they start dominating tankmates twice their size.
Dottybacks mostly come from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, and Western Pacific. They belong in the order Perciformes, suborder Percoidei, and the family Pseudochromidae, which contains 20 genera having about 120-plus species. There have been three new genera proposed in the subfamily Pseudochrominae (Manonichthys, Oxycercichthys, and Pholidochromis), but previously the fish in these genera have been considered Pseudochromis.
Aggressive Introverts :
The subfamily Pseudochrominae contains the most species- (about 60), and are ideally suited for many home aquariums because of their small size, hardiness, easiness to feed, disease resistance, and remarkable coloration. In the wild, these mostly shy fishes are found on coral or rocky reefs, where they prefer to hide in reef holes or crevices and feed upon small crustaceans, polychaete worms, and plankton. However, that’s only half the story, as most are also quite territorial and chase away others, even those in their own genus. Therefore, making the right choice the first time around is imperative if a dottyback is on your shopping list.
Marine Chameleons :
One of the most controversial species in this family that shows up in the trade is Congrogadus subducens. It belongs to the subfamily Congrogadinae and is usually called the carpet eel blenny or wolf eel, but is actually neither. This eel-like species attains a length of 18 inches and hails from the Western Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. It is usually found in very shallow waters (e.g., seagrass beds, tidal rubble flats, and tidepools) and can change its color to match its background if threatened. It should not be housed with small fish and shrimp (which constitute its prey), and caves and/or rock crevices should be provided so it can hide. It should be fed every other day with a diet consisting of meaty-type foods. The aquarium should also be covered, as this species has a habit of jumping out of an uncovered tank. It can be safely housed with larger and more aggressive fishes, such as squirrelfish, angelfish, surgeonfish, and rabbitfish.
Ostensibly Civil :
So what are some mild-mannered dottyback species that can be added to mixed environments in fish-only and reef aquariums? That is actually a difficult question to answer, because there are different factors involved—it may depend on the aquarium environment, or the fish’s tankmates. However, many species in the subfamily Pseudochrominae, such as Pictichromis (magenta dottybacks), do generally get along well with others and are often seen in the hobby.
The most common is probably the diadem dottyback Pictichromis diadema. This small, 2-inch species hails from the Western Pacific and inhabits reef slopes, base areas of drop-offs, and coral crevices, where it feeds on plankton and small crustaceans. Its yellow body is capped with a magenta color that runs from the top of the eye to the tail. The fish is often seen in the trade because it’s a small and attractive species, and those with little or no previous experience may consider it a good addition to their aquarium, whether it’s reef or fish-only. However, this is not necessarily correct.
If kept with aggressive fishes (e.g., larger angelfish, surgeonfish, squirrelfish, and wrasses), it can be maintained quite successfully (even in small groups) in any type of aquarium. However, in an aquarium with less aggressive fishes (e.g., damsels, anthias, gobies, anemonefish, and even others in its own family), they will terrorize their neighbors. They also become open to diseases when stressing tankmates. It’s no doubt a very pretty fish, but also very risky in most mixed-company systems.
Superdotties :
Next up is the royal or bicolor dottyback P. paccagnellae, which is approximately the same size, has the same natural environmental conditions, and also hails from the same areas. It’s another commonly seen fish in the trade that features great colors—its front half is magenta, while its rear half is yellow. Calling the fish hardy would be an understatement, as they are almost indestructible, and will attack not only larger fish, but even those thought to be more aggressive. In fact, they will even do battle with larger triggerfish! Again, these fish are pretty, but they are not suited for anything but an aquarium designed for this species. They are also extremely fast-moving and secretive, so removing one from an aquarium is an immense challenge.
The magenta or purple dottyback P. porphyrea also has the same logistics and size as the above two, but is a little more tolerant of its neighbors. However, it still should not be kept with very docile tankmates, especially in small aquariums where it has a tendency to get really aggressive. In addition, it somewhat tends to lose its coloration in captivity.
Dotty(bullies) :
Moving into the genus Pseudochromis (common dottybacks), the Arabian blue-lined or neon dottybackPseudochromis aldabraensis is a beautiful fish. It hails from the Arabian Gulf east of Pakistan and inhabits various environments (e.g., fringing reefs, bays with rocky rubble, and growths of stony corals). It gets to about 8 inches in length and feeds on plankton and small bottom-dwelling crustaceans, as do most dottybacks. A mostly yellow-orange body capped with blue, coupled with an iridescent blue stripe running lengthwise, makes this a highly attractive species. It actually has a doppelganger, P. dutoiti(from the Kenya to South Africa region), which has a more greenish body.
I’ve kept both of these—albeit not simultaneously—in the distant past (as I have those mentioned above them), and let me say that either of these two can really be a terror in almost any type of aquarium. Though one was placed in a 100-gallon reef aquarium and the other in a 75-gallon reef aquarium with larger tankmates, they almost constantly took shots at the other inhabitants. As with all dottybacks, they are extremely fast, quite hardy, territorial, disease resistant, mostly inexpensive, very colorful, and not finicky eaters. But I won’t go into detail about how quickly I got them out of my aquariums when I found out they would not peacefully coexist with their tankmates. It was one of those “live and learn” experiences from my younger years.
Edgy Scavengers :
There’s another in this genus, P. springeri (the Springer’s or blue-striped dottyback), that is occasionally available in the trade. This small 2-inch fish hails from the Red Sea and inhabits the slopes of fringing reefs. It could be considered a nervous fish, as it’s always going from one place to another searching for food. One of the things that make it favorable for reef aquariums is that it’s not overly aggressive and will get along with almost all tankmates except those that are quite docile, such as anthias. It’s also a good hunter of small bristleworms.
The Ideal :
At last, a species I can highly recommend! The orchid or Fridman’s dottyback P. fridmani is undoubtedly well suited for the community tank. This fish is from the northern region of the Red Sea, and features a magenta body with a black stripe that runs from the lip through its eye to the edge of the operculum, and a blue spot on the gill cover. This small fish is about 2½ inches and easily adapts to reef aquariums, as it likes numerous places to hide and/or search for food. It rarely bothers other smaller fish, but still maintains some of the dottyback attitude. Nevertheless, it is the absolute best of the bunch when it comes to temperament. It’s probably the most sought-after dottyback species in the trade—it’s not only very pretty, but hardy and interesting to watch. What’s more, captive-bred specimens are available. As with other dottybacks, it’s a meat eater that should have at least one meal per day. One minor drawback is that it tends to jump out of aquariums, but covering any open areas should do the trick.
Polychromes :
Moving on to the genus Ogilbyina (Australian dottybacks), there are two that infrequently show up in the trade—the Australian or multicolored dottyback Ogilbyina novaehollandiae, and the Queensland dottyback O. queenslandiae. Both are inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef, dwelling in tidepools and reef faces. The Australian dottyback gets to about 4 inches in length, while the Queensland dottyback reaches about 6 inches. What’s confusing about these fish is that their coloration varies with age and sex—the Australian dottyback has a total of five color stages alone. Therefore, a specimen may come to a local dealer that is difficult to properly identify, but still look attractive. Their alluring coloration may tempt a hobbyist into adding them hastily, but there will be trouble if the tank features smaller species—it attacks anything smaller than groupers, triggerfish, or large eels.
Little Devils :
Those in the genus Labracinus (lined dottybacks) are also far too aggressive to be kept with fish their own size (8 inches) or smaller. Two that rarely show up in the trade from the Western Pacific are the red (aka, dampiera or firetail) devil L. cyclophthalmus and the blackbarred dottyback L. atrofasciatus. Both live on coastal reefs and feed upon shrimps, snails, crabs, worms, serpent stars, and small urchins and fish. Unsuitable for a reef aquarium would be an understatement! Moreover, they are not suited for most fish-only aquariums, as these species are bullies that cannot be trusted with anything less dominating than large eels, groupers, and triggerfishes. Unfortunately, they can be handsome species, which is why they are captured and put into the hobbyist market sometimes.
A Streaking Flame :
Finally, let’s look at an extremely gorgeous fish in the genus Cypho (oblique-lined dottybacks). The male Cypho purpurascens is without a doubt a stunner—reaching a maximum length of about 3 inches, its entire body and fins are bright red, and its dorsal fin often features a large black dot. It hails from the Western Pacific and inhabits stony coral areas near the edges of reef faces, caves, and rubble areas on reef slopes. Although it’s aggressive to docile fishes, it can be kept with damselfish, larger wrasses, surgeonfish, and angelfish. It needs lots of hiding places, so a larger reef aquarium would suit it perfectly.
As for diet, it requires meaty foods and should be fed once daily. If its meal is too large to swallow, it will bash the food against something hard to break it up into smaller pieces. The females have somewhat of a drab coloration—their bodies appear yellowish and washed-out, and they tend to have red coloring around the eyes. The species can only be kept singly or in mated pairs in aquariums,and even though it’s safe with corals, it’s not safe with tubeworms and shrimp, nor is it safe with any fish that has red coloration.
Vibrant Risks :
There are other dottyback genera and species to choose from, most of which have beautiful colors and are quite small, but few can be considered safe to accompany the majority of animals that hobbyists keep in their aquariums. There are certainly exceptions, however, as some have proved undeserving of their reputations in mixed-company systems. Nevertheless, dealing with dottybacks may be similar to going to Las Vegas and putting your money down on a game of chance. If there’s a dottyback species of interest that catches your eye in a local shop, it’s important to first research its needs and temperament before placing it in your aquarium. Believe me—I’ve learned the hard way that patience and research is essential when putting any of these fast-moving fish in the aquarium.
The Dottybacks :
Dottybacks" is the common name given to the fish that comprise the family Pseudochromidae. Four sub-families, 16 genera, and over 100 species make up this family, though most dottybacks popular in the hobby are from the Pseudochromis genus. This genus also represents the most colorful animals of the family and the one we will concentrate on in this article, with a few exceptions. Their bright colors, along with intriguing personality made them favorites of hobbyists years ago. However, the remote collection locations of most species demanded prices that were higher than what most would be willing to pay. Successful captive breeding of the dottybacks by organizations such as ORA Farms has relieved stress on wild collection practices as well as bringing the price for these beauties into most hobbyists' reality. Dottybacks of most species are showing up around the hobby as captive bred, making once hard to find species readily available.
All dottybacks are hermaphrodites (Debelius & Baensch, 1994). Since each fish can adopt either male or female sexual organs, adding two like species into a tank together will result in a pair, provided they don't kill each other first. Unlike clownfish (another hermaphroditic group), the larger of the two dottybacks will be the male. Spawning in the home aquarium is becoming more frequent, especially since more species are becoming more commonly available. The male performs his mating dance outside his cave trying to excite the female. The female will enter the male's cave, once it accepts the male's dance. Depending on species, up to 1000 or more eggs are first laid by the female, and then fertilized by the male. The egg sack is negatively buoyant and is adhered to the inside of the males cave. The male then guards the eggs, not allowing the female near them. He will fan the eggs to provide oxygen, and may even pick up and move the eggs to a new location if he feels they are in harm's way. There have even been occasional reports of the male mouth brooding. After 3 - 6 days the transparent fry hatch from their eggs at roughly ½ the size of a newborn clownfish and are larval for up to 30 days (Ora Inc.). Seven days after laying eggs the female is ready once again, and the cycle is repeated. Raising the fry to adult size is possible, and I would refer you to "Breeding The Orchid Dottyback: An Aquarist's Journal" by Martin Moe, Jr., for information on the rearing of fry. The information presented in this text is invaluable for those wishing to attempt to raise the fry.
All dottybacks feed primarily on small crustaceans and zooplankton, though some may consume polychaetes and small fish. In the home aquarium you can expect the fish to feed from the water column, accepting most anything meat based. Mysis, brine, plankton, and Formula One ™ are good foods to try first and to use as a staple of the diet. When you're not feeding they will spend some time hunting the live rock for food. They will feed on bristleworms, among other things, making them undesirable to those wanting to keep a diversely populated live sandbed. Among dottybacks, sessile invertebrates are not at risk.
A home aquarium with plenty of hiding places is required for all dottybacks. They are hardy aquarium fish and adapt quickly to captivity. They make their den from small caves and will readily use these to escape the presence of danger. In most cases dottybacks need to be in a tank with mildly aggressive tank mates. Gobies, blennies, small wrasses and other non-aggressive fish will be in danger of harassment, while surgeonfish and triggers will create a more reclusive dottyback. Good tank mates include Cirrhilabrus sp. wrasses, Centropyge sp. angels, clownfish, damsels, and hawkfish. Be sure to add the dottyback last in all occasions. In some cases, a dedicated species tank might be needed to house them in captivity. Dottybacks have a tendency to be intolerable of tank mates. In addition, most dottybacks originate from 60 feet or deeper, thus they prefer dimmer lit tanks. Today's S.P.S. tanks are undesirable aquariums for dottybacks due to the bright lights that the corals dictate.
The most sought after and, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the dottybacks is P. fridmani, also known as the Orchid dottyback or Fridman's dottyback. It is their bright violet color that attracts most hobbyists, and up until a year or so ago these beauties commanded a price tag near $100. They are collected as deep as 180 feet, though some can be found as shallow as 3 feet. The great depths they inhabit, along with their Red Sea origin, has created their inflated price tags. Thanks to efforts in part by C-Quest and ORA Farms, Orchid dottybacks can now be found for as little as $30. The substantially smaller price for a captive bred animal versus a wild collected animal is a small but important victory for captive breeding.
The author's male orchid dottyback (P. fridmani) is pictured above. Note the black stripe across his eye.
The authors female P. fridmani. Note the swollen abdomen full of eggs.
Of all dottybacks, Orchids are possibly the most "laid back." That is not saying much, however, as all dottybacks can hold their own in most situations. It does allow you to keep them in quiet settings much easier than some of their cousins, though. When kept with smaller, docile fish the Orchid dottyback will become boss of the tank. It will aggressively defend its cave and it will spend a good deal of time in plain view. In most cases it will not pester tank mates unless they venture to close to it's cave. When kept with aggressive swimming fish, such as Surgeonfish, Orchids are more likely to spend most of their time tucked tightly inside their cave and appear only at feeding time. Orchids pose a threat to ornamental shrimp, though not in all cases. If the fish is added after the shrimp it is possible for the two to co-exist. Once the fish is established, it would be best not to add ornamental shrimp. They might be mistaken as an expensive snack. You can expect your Orchid to reach almost 3" in length.
Don't confuse P. fridmani with P. porphyreus, or the Magenta dottyback (also Strawberry dottyback). While diving this would be impossible, as the Magenta originates from Central West Pacific and the Orchid from the Red Sea. In your local store, however, the similarity is amazing. The black stripe that originates on the snout and extends through the eye and ends at the operculum on the Orchid is the only way to tell them apart. The Magenta lacks this stripe is a solid electric violet color. The Magenta is slightly smaller than the Orchid, measuring just over 2" full grown. The small size is another area of confusion for some. These small fish can be rather pugnacious, will readily consume ornamental shrimp and will harass other small fish to death.
A magenta dottyback (P. porphyreus) in a home aquarium. Note the lack of the black stripe across the eye, differentiating it from the orchid.
Hailing from East Indonesia and northwest Australia is P. splendens or more commonly referred to as the Splendid dottyback. The Splendid dottyback rivals the Orchid in looks. The comparison stops there, however, as the Splendid can be nasty. You can expect this species to become almost 8", making it the largest Pseudochromis. The males are always brighter in coloration, though they sport the same pattern as the females, a yellow and blue checkerboard across the body and fins, yellow tail and face with a black stripe running through the eye. Two males should never be added to the same tank, as this will most likely become a lethal mistake.
Splendid Dottyback (P. splendens)
The Arabian or Neon dottyback, officially named P. aldabraensis, is another common dottyback. The metallic blue stripes sparkling underneath fluorescent lighting lying on top of the orange-gold background immediately attracts most hobbyists. Their very aggressive nature and love of ornamental shrimp turns most hobbyists away. I have introduced an Arabian dottyback to a tank containing 2 peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) and watched the fish make it's way directly to the shrimp and proceed to smack them upon the live rock until they were dead. He later returned to once again pound the now dead carcasses against the rocks until they were bite size pieces. It gets its common name from its point of collection in the wild. They are located from the Gulf of Arabia and Oman to Sri Lanka, but nowadays they are readily available via captive breeding facilities. The Arabian dottyback is a good representative for the typical dottyback size, reaching roughly 3 - 3.5".
P. aldabraensis giving us a glimpse of their magnificient coloration. Often a victim of impulse buying thanks to it's coloration. If they didn't research it first, the keeper will quickly learn this fish will kill most shrimp and small fish.
The last two commonly available dottybacks are the Diadem (P. diadema) and Royal (P. paccagnellae). They both come from the Western Atlantic and are easily confused due to the like colors and similar personality. The back half of the Royal dottyback is orange-yellow, while the front is violet. This contrasts from the Diadem, which is roughly 75% orange-yellow with a violet stripe from the tip of the snout extending back to the tail. Though small (almost 3"), both should be considered armed and dangerous. They pack a punch in a small package and have it loaded on a hair trigger. They will attack gobies, blennies, wrasses, and even damsels! They will eat ornamental shrimp.
The diadem dottyback (P. diadema) is a highly aggressive and territorial psuedochromis. Don't let the small size fool you.
Like the diadem, this royal dottyback (P. paccagnellae) is ready to aggressively defend itself. Do not mix with passive fish.
Two other rare Red Sea natives that have benefited from captive breeding are P. flavivertex(Sunrise dottyback) and P. springeri (Springer's dottyback). The Springer's is a small dottyback, reaching about 2". They are usually jet-black though shades of gray are possible. They possess the same striking blue stripes as the Arabian dottyback. P. springeri mimics a facultative Cleaner Wrasse, the Four-Line (Larabicus quadrilineatus) accruing a similar non-predatory benefit (Fenner, WetWebMedia). The Sunrise dottyback has the most pronounced coloration between sexes. The males are predominantly light blue with a yellow stripe along the topside extending from the snout to the base of the tail. The ventral side is a lighter shade of blue, possibly white or even yellow. The female has a yellow tail, but the yellow stripe along the top is missing. Instead, the lighter shading of the ventral side extends further up, and the light blue color is less pronounced. Its behavior is very similar to the Orchid dottyback, except it has been reported to hunt down mantis shrimps (Michael, 1999).
Sporting the same electric blue as P. aldabraensis is P. springeri, or springer's dottyback. Provide care similiar to the orchid dottyback. These can be mixed with ornamental shrimp in most cases and are great additions to reef tanks. Try to get a pair.
The last Pseudochromis that I'll discuss rarely shows up in the hobby. P. steenei, also known as Steene's dottyback or Lyretail dottyback, is the most aggressive member of the family. Scott Michael has even proclaimed that P. steenei is, "ounce for ounce, the meanest fish in the sea." The Steene's dottyback will reach a maximum 5" of unholy terror. From afar, they are a beautiful fish. The males have a yellowish-orange head and a grayish-brown body. Females are not as attractive with their dark gray body, yellow tail, and blue line behind their eye. What you cannot see from afar, however, you'll get to see frighteningly up close. P. steenei sports an impressive set of large teeth that extend out of the fishes mouth even when the mouth is closed! What makes this worse is the fish is aware of the damage it can do with the canine-like teeth and prefers to show you! In the original description of this fish by Dr. Anthony Gill and Dr. John Randall (1992), the authors are quoted as saying, "P. steenei and its close relatives appear to be highly territorial and aggressive. The second author's camera housing was bitten while photographing the holotype and paratype ofP. steenei." In Scott Michael's recent release, "A Deadly Dottyback," he describes his best method for photographing P. steenei was focusing on his fingers and placing his glove covered hand in P. steenei's litter patch. The fish would dart out of it's home, attacking his fingers, and even shake the finger once in it's grasp. Once the fish released the finger it would often remain nearby and "sneer" at it's victim (Michael, Coralrealm). Some attitude! When diving you can find these fish in Indonesia and northern Australia around 100 feet deep, though they can be spotted as deep as 160 feet or as shallow as 25 feet. In the home aquarium they are intolerant of tank mates and will usually kill them, making a species tank a necessity.
A pair of P. steenei, or steene's dottyback. The colorful male is on the left with the less colorful female on the right. These fish need a species tank, or they will make it such soon enough.
Two beautiful dottybacks that do not come from the genus Pseudochromis are the Oblique-lined dottyback (Cypho purpurescens) and the Newholland dottyback (Ogilbyina novaehollandiae). Each of these dottybacks represents the aggressive nature that defines the dottybacks. They will attack and kill smaller gobies, blennies, damsels, and shrimp. Also, it is best not to house these with dwarf angels. The Oblique-lined, the lone species in Cypho, is a beautiful rust/maroon coloration while the female Newholland is a virtual rainbow. Yellow, red, blue, green and orange are all represented to varying degrees on each fish. Males have less color than the females, but the colors are more pronounced with a red head, black or ash on the backside, ventral side being white and a white tail with red edging. A small blue stripe underneath the eye and a touch of yellow on the dorsal fin makes for a nice accent.
The last dottyback that we will discuss is the Green Wolf Eel. Not an eel at all, although it looks very much like one. It is also sometimes confused as a blenny. Despite the identity crisis, it is a dottyback: Congrogadus subducens, to be exact. This fish shares the body dimensions of an eel, the aggressiveness of the worst dottybacks, and an appetite which rivals a that of a grouper. It is a strict carnivore and will eat anything it can swallow. It will eat its tank mates if it can, and once established, it will never be the last one to the food. It can reach up to 18" long and is an excellent jumper. A covered tank is a must.
The dottybacks are a diverse family of fish and I, for one, am very pleased that captive breeding has made them readily available. When purchasing dottybacks, be sure to buy those that have been captive bred. It is both an ecological and ethical choice.
Dottybacks species :
Dottybacks, also known as Pseudochromis, are brightly colored, and reach a size of three inches. They are very hardy aquarium specimens that adjust well to captivity. Dottybacks feed on plankton, small crustaceans, worms and will accept most prepared foods. The aquarium should include a well-sealed lid, and plenty of rockwork and hiding places. Only one species should be maintained in an aquarium.
1-Purple Dottyback
Pseudochromis porphyreus
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Purple
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu
Family: Pseudochromidae
The color of the Purple Dottyback, also known as the Magenta Dottyback or Purple Pseudochromis, is best described as magenta.
A 30 gallon or larger aquarium should be provided. It may become aggressive towards other Pseudochromis or fish with similar body shapes. It is easy to keep in an aquarium when provided with numerous hiding places.
The diet consists of meaty foods such as brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods. Foods should be enriched and varied in order to preserve its beautiful coloration.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 2-1/2"
2-Purple Stripe Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Purple, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Pseudochromidae
The Purple Stripe Dottyback, also known as Diadem Dottyback or Diadem Pseudochromis, is primarily yellow with a purple stripe running the length of the body along the dorsal fin.
The diet consists of meaty foods including brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 2-1/2"
3-Bicolor Dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Purple, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Pseudochromidae
The Bicolor Dottyback, also called the Bicolor Pseudochromis or Royal Dottyback, is two bold colors; the anterior portion is purple and the posterior portion is bright yellow.
A 30 gallon or larger aquarium should be provided. The Bicolor Dottyback will not be intimidated by other fish and will defend its territory against fish two to three times its size. It will also eat ornamental shrimp and is a predator of nuisance bristleworms.
The diet should consist of meaty foods including brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 2-1/2"
4-Splendid Dottyback
Manonichthys splendens
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Blue, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Pseudochromidae
The Splendid Dottyback, also known as the Splendid Pseudochromis, has a blue body covered with white to light yellow spotting. It also has a yellow tail and a yellow mark between the eyes. Originating from Indonesia, this species can be territorial in smaller aquarium set-ups, maintaining with larger tank mates is ideal.
A 30-gallon or larger aquarium provides a good environment. It will not be intimidated by other fish and will defend its territory, even against fish two to three times its size. It will eat small ornamental shrimp.
The Splendid Dottyback should be fed a varied diet consisting of foods specifically designed for carnivores. If kept in a reef aquarium, the Splendid Dottyback should be fed once per day.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1 1/4" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 2 3/4"; Large: 2 3/4" to 4"
5-Whitetail Dottyback
Manonichthys cf. alleni
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.021-1.025
Max. Size: 3"
Color Form: Blue, Grey, Pink
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Pseudochromidae
The Whitetail Dottyback is an example of the exciting big-finned Dottybacks recently appearing in the aquarium trade. Members of the Genus Manonichthys are medium-sized Dottybacks distinguished by a deep body and pronounced pelvic fins. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins also appear over-sized, giving credence to the name "big-finned" Dottybacks. The Whitetail Dottyback boasts an interesting color scheme featuring a soft, salmon-pink coloration that peers through a predominantly gray body color. This coloration is accentuated by a dramatic constellation of yellow dots, covering the entire body. The white caudal and pelvic fins add brilliant contrast and highlight these large fins. The caudal peduncle (the area where the body and tail meet) of certain individuals may also be white, adding greater visual interest. Deep crimson dots near the base of each pelvic fin are quirky, yet telltale features of the Whitetail Dottyback. For this reason, the Whitetail Dottyback is sometimes known as the Red Dot Dottyback.
The ideal setup for the Whitetail Dottyback will be an established saltwater aquarium of at least 30 gallons in size aquascaped with generous amounts of live rock. Create ample crevices and caves for the Whitetail Dottyback. Similar to other Dottyback species, it is recommended to house the Whitetail Dottyback singly unless the aquarium is very large. Because of its energetic personality, the Whitetail Dottyback makes a great addition to a large community marine aquarium.
The diet of the Whitetail Dottyback consists of meaty foods including vitamin-enriched brine and mysis shrimp as well as other prepared frozen foods.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 1-1/2"; Medium: 1-1/2" to 2"; Large: 2" to 3"
