Does anyone have a Red Dottyback, AKA Dampier Grouper

[kingfisher62]

I was just thinking back several years to my first FO tank and thought of my beloved "cavefish" AKA Red Dottyback, AKA Dampier Grouper. This guy used to dwell inside of one of the artificial structures I had in my 55G . He had to be 8 inches when I decided to find a better home for him. He just got too large and aggressive with his tank mates . Plus he would love to excavate . I would come home from work and find a 12 inch pile of sand on on one side of the tank and a huge pit under his home. It was hysterical to watch him dig. Also had a great personality too.

Well anyway, I have never seen another or heard about this fish after all these years and was wondering if anyone has ever had one?

<a href="http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Kingfish62/?action=view&current=smdbk_001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Kingfish62/smdbk_001.jpg" border="0" alt="akacavefish"></a>

 

[rachenbrazil]

I had one long time ago... kept it for 8 years... when got it , only 4 inches... when died 2 years ago... solo in his tight 100g tank... over 10 inches... very agressive fish... but with so great ... personality... would take some large bits of shirimp very delicate from tweezers (too risk to get close to the sharp teeth...) missing it and never found another one to replace it...

 

[kingfisher62]

I guess you and I are the only ones who ever had one. I don't think I would ever get another but I did enjoy him while I had him. They are definitely king of the Dottybacks!
any pics of yours around?

 

[tcmfish]

They are a great species tank fish. The LFS here gets these and similar aggressive dottybacks on occasion, but I don't have a tank for one now or I'd pick one up.

 

[phoenixstar89]

had one about 10 years ago. angriest fish i ever had. ate or killed everything so I traded him back in. started researching fish better after that. lol

 

[kingfisher62]

Ok, I guess they have been around.

Although beautifull they can be real mean . I actually witnessed mine grabbing my six line wrasse and viciously beating it against the LR into bite size chunks. That was the last straw.

 

[kingfisher62]

Here is an old picture of him in his cave!

<a href="http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Kingfish62/?action=view&current=cavfish2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Kingfish62/cavfish2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>