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Dottybacks
Pseudochromis spp.
Common Name(s): Arabian bluelined/Neon dottyback (Pseudochromis aldabraensis), Bluelined/Bluebarred/Surge dottyback (Pseudochromis cyanotaenia), Diadem dottyback (Pseudochromis diadema), Sunrise dottyback (Pseudochromis flavivertex), Orchid/Fridman's dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani), Dusky/Yellow dottyback (Pseudochromis fuscus), Royal/Bicolor dottyback (Pseudochromis paccagnellae), Magenta/Purple/Strawberry dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus), Sankey's dottyback (Pseudochromis sankeyi), Allen's dottyback (Pseudochromis sp.), Springer's dottyback (Pseudochromis springeri)
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Reef Fish Guide designation and why
Take it home
Dottybacks represent a group of beautiful and bold small fish for all types of aquariums. All of these fish are known to have a very high survival rate. They are also a very sustainable choice because many of the species are produced commercially in captivity. Some species like P. cyanotaeni and P. fridmani can even be kept in pairs and will often breed in the home aquarium. In order to maintain wild populations, captive bred dottybacks should be sought out before buying wild collected specimens. Although you should always check with around with your local fish store, the most common captive bred species are: P. springeri, P. sankeyi, P. fridmani, P. falvivertex, P. cyanotaeni, P. aldabraensis.
Distribution
Indo Pacific and Western Pacific, (P. cyanotaenia, P. diadema, P. fuscus, P. porphyreus, P. paccagnellae, P. sp); Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (P. falvivertex, P. fridmani, P. sankeyi, P. springeri); Persian Gulf (P. aldabraensis)
Maximum Size
Ranges from 1.6 inches to 4.7 inches (4 - 12 cm)
Care Requirements
Minimum tank size is 20 gallons. A home aquarium with plenty of hiding places is required for all dottybacks. Dottybacks can be housed singly, in mated pairs, or in small groups as long as the aquarium is large enough and has plenty of rock for hiding. They are hardy aquarium fish and adapt quickly to captivity making their den from small caves and using them to flee when frightened.
Food: In the wild, this genus feeds on crustaceans, worms, and zooplankton. All species mentioned here enjoy a simple diet of meaty foods in captivity. They can be fed marine fishes, crustacean flesh, mysid shrimp, and frozen preparations daily. Sometimes dottybacks are used for controlling bristleworms in reef tanks that can emerge from live rock to prey on certain invertebrates.
Compatibility: In most cases dottybacks tend to be territorial and 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. It will aggressively defend its cave and it will spend a good deal of time in plain view.
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