Basslet and Dottyback Together
- Thread starter BigEZ77
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I kept four ORA Dottybacks (Orchid, Striped, Electric Indigo and Black Neon) along with a Royal Gramma in my 150G. The Dottybacks were in there for maybe ten months and the Gramma had maybe six months before a horrible accident wiped them all out.
They got along with each other fairly well as well as with the rest of the tank. I saw no aggression at all from the Orchid Dottyback. The other three Dottybacks would occasionally chase each other or other fish away, but it would only be for a few seconds--nothing serious. Sometimes the Dottybacks would swim with each other through the rocks.
The Royal Gramma is a real cool little fish. It mostly kept to itself and usually not too far from its "spot" in the rockwork. It would sometimes open its mouth wide when other fish get too close, but never anything more than that.
I believe the lack of real aggression was because:
1) The Dottybacks were all captive bred
2) They are all considered low on aggressiveness for Dottybacks
3) I feed heavily, minimum twice a day, usually three or four times
4) Plenty of rockwork to swim through
The Royal Gramma and Indigo Dottyback might work together in a 45G, but I would recommend adding the Gramma first to let it get comfortable in its surroundings. And make sure to feed generously to keep everyone happy.
I also keep a Swales Basslet in a 40G with a Firefish, Bristle-tail Filefish and Redspot Cardinals. This Basslet stays hidden pretty much all the time and once killed a Pink-Streaked Wrasse that was maybe half its mass. It never showed aggression to any of the other fish. The Swales would likely hold its own better than a Gramma against an aggressive Dottyback, but then you may hardly see it. I read that the Swissguard is a little more outgoing than the Swales, though.
Ah, the joys of picking fish that'll get along together. Why can't all the pretty fish be friendly?
They got along with each other fairly well as well as with the rest of the tank. I saw no aggression at all from the Orchid Dottyback. The other three Dottybacks would occasionally chase each other or other fish away, but it would only be for a few seconds--nothing serious. Sometimes the Dottybacks would swim with each other through the rocks.
The Royal Gramma is a real cool little fish. It mostly kept to itself and usually not too far from its "spot" in the rockwork. It would sometimes open its mouth wide when other fish get too close, but never anything more than that.
I believe the lack of real aggression was because:
1) The Dottybacks were all captive bred
2) They are all considered low on aggressiveness for Dottybacks
3) I feed heavily, minimum twice a day, usually three or four times
4) Plenty of rockwork to swim through
The Royal Gramma and Indigo Dottyback might work together in a 45G, but I would recommend adding the Gramma first to let it get comfortable in its surroundings. And make sure to feed generously to keep everyone happy.
I also keep a Swales Basslet in a 40G with a Firefish, Bristle-tail Filefish and Redspot Cardinals. This Basslet stays hidden pretty much all the time and once killed a Pink-Streaked Wrasse that was maybe half its mass. It never showed aggression to any of the other fish. The Swales would likely hold its own better than a Gramma against an aggressive Dottyback, but then you may hardly see it. I read that the Swissguard is a little more outgoing than the Swales, though.
Ah, the joys of picking fish that'll get along together. Why can't all the pretty fish be friendly?
