Can you tame a Splendid Dotty back???

[Orangetruck94]

Hi gang!
So here is what going on!
I have a 40 gallon tank that had 2 Blue Damsels. I the bought a Bicolor Blenny, Splendid Dotty Back. & Royal Gramma. The Damsels picked on the Dotty Back for about a year. A week ago I took out the Damsels and bought a 6 line Wrasse. The Dotty Back has been picking on the new 6 Line only (new fish in the tank). Well this morning I saw the 6 line was dead!

I would like to get a Purple Firefish & another 6 Line but I dont want to put anymore peaceful fish in my tank if the Dotty Back is just going to attack them?

Any suggestions on how to handle a aggressive Dotty Back??

Thanks again gang!

Orangetruck

 

[jmaneyapanda]

remove it. Thats the only option. ESPECIALLY for a firefish.

 

[Orangetruck94]

remove it. Thats the only option. ESPECIALLY for a firefish.

Removing it is not what I wanted to hear!!
Thanks for your option tho!
Orangetruck

 

[mrwilson]

I agree that in a tank that small, with a dottyback established for that long, you will most likely have no other viable option but to remove it if you want to add any additional (relatively peaceful) fish.

 

[saix88]

Unfortunately fish aren't dogs Lots of pretty fish with temper problems.

 

[tcmfish]

The fish you want to add will get harassed, but whats wrong with the fish you have? Sixlines can be just as aggressive once established. Why not pair it up? You can find fish that will hold their own too.

I personally am a big friend of the dottybacks and they get a bad rap for their aggressiveness. One of my favorite groups of fish, but yeah firefish aren't good tankmates but a dottyback will have much more personality!

 

[Orangetruck94]

The fish you want to add will get harassed, but whats wrong with the fish you have? Sixlines can be just as aggressive once established. Why not pair it up? You can find fish that will hold their own too.

I personally am a big friend of the dottybacks and they get a bad rap for their aggressiveness. One of my favorite groups of fish, but yeah firefish aren't good tankmates but a dottyback will have much more personality!

I think the 6 Line was to small, it was just about 1 inch and the Dotty Back is about 3 inches. I know wrasses can hold their own. I make a rookie mistake and put a 4 line & a 6 line in the same tank. They fought like cats & dogs but never damaged fins.

You are SO right about the personality of the Dotty Back. It swims EVERYWHERE in the tank, back and forth in the live rock!! Its cool to watch!!
Thanks for the advice!!

 

[tcmfish]

Lol!!! Just re-read that, should be fan not friend LOL!

 

[pbnj]

Dottyback + Firefish = Dead Firefish

Dottybacks are pure evil. My Golden Dottyback is not going in my 240g upgrade.

 

[pbnj]

...not to mention the fact that I only see him when he darts out of the rocks to grab his food.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

In a tank that size the pseudo will likely shred any smaller or passive newcomers, "taming" a fish like that is simply impossible. Some fish can learn to do certain behaviors, especially around food, but you are asking if you can change the very nature of the fish and I say it cant be done. You either need to find a new home for the pseudo or find tougher tankmates (and I cant think of many who wont quickly outgrow a 40).

 

[tcmfish]

A larger sixline, hawkfish, any of the argi complex pygmy angels or most Centropyge, some clownfish (tomato, maroon, clarkii etc.), some damsels, marine betta, and I'm sure I could find others.

Not every tank has to have such peaceful fish in it, and I find firefish kind of boring myself, but yes they shouldn't be kept together and they can be feisty towards other peaceful fish.