Dottyback questions

[brett559]

Springeri Dottyback
I know very little about this fish - never seen one, don't know anyone who has kept one. I saw it on a recent video (Mr. Saltwater tank).

Per LA, they seem like a decent addition:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1500+1115&pcatid=1115

Any experience with this fish? Do they get mean and aggressive?

Splendid Dottyback
This is another one I'm curious about. I've only seen these at Petco, and they've looked pretty pale and washed out. I've never seen one with colors like on the LA pic:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+38+178&pcatid=178

These look like they might be a tad bit meaner. Any thoughts on those?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Mature dottybacks are usually very aggressive fish. Beautiful yes, but I'll never own one again.

 

[RG Rude]

If you're looking for a dottyback that is less aggressive maybe you should consider an Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis Fridmani). Great fish. I've had mine for a few weeks now.

 

[Giovanni]

My Springeri was very aggressive.

 

[Sounds Fishy]

My Neon Dottyback was only aggressive with my blue ribbon eel,so the eel ate it

 

[running scott]

I had the same questions as you. I ended up getting a ORA splendid, and a sunrise dottyback from live aquaria. They both seemed very washed out color wise, and very shy. I put them in the tank on the 11th, and they seem to be getting prettier. Very small fish, the only fish they bother is each other. I might add an orchid, and a Springeri in the future. These fish seem to stay in their own territories, and I have a lot of rock.

 

[Kies1]

I have a tank bred splendid dottyback and it is a model citizen, no aggression what so ever. I have heard wild caught can be a nightmare. Love this fish, very colourful and has been a great addition to my 90 gallon mixed reef. Mine is very similar in colour to the live aquaria pic.

 

[ThRoewer]

I had both of those and not much issues despite keeping them not in pairs.
Though my splendid was still a juvenile.

I would of course not keep them with timid or smaller species.

 

[brett559]

What would timid or smaller species be?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

What would timid or smaller species be?

Royal Gramma, they look similar to the dottybacks but are very peaceful to other fish.

 

[Moort82]

As you can see from my avatar, I kept one. Had it around 8 years and really love them. Didn't have any aggression from it whatsoever apart from it once squared up to a new iridis wrasse. There wasn't any contact, just fin posturing to make themselves look bigger. A day later and they ignored each other.
By timid fish I would go along the lines of species like dartfish, shyer wrasse species like wetmorella etc but in truth if the fish keep away from the rockwork I doubt you'd have many problems at all.

I've kept a lot of dottybacks in my time and bred quite a few. I must admit their rep is not normally earnt ime but I have stuck to the more "peaceful" species and kept them with sensible tankmates (which I think is the biggest problem). Don't get me wrong the general rep of the family is there for a reason but tank bred (tend to be less aggressive) species such as fridmani, sunrise, springers, Sankey, indigo and to a lesser extent Arabian, are pretty easy going and capable of mixing with more aggressive species if needed. I always think it funny that people shy away from dottybacks because they believe they are terrors but quite happily add a pair of clownfish which i'd hazard a guess have caused more issues for both the inhabitants and the one looking after them.

The only downside I would say about the springers in mine went awol as it aged. It could be because I had a sixline wrasse which intimidated it (didn't see anything between the two but once the wrasse was removed the dotty popped back out), but its not a constantly out in the open species and the dark black doesn't help. It wouldn't put me off another (or better yet a pair) but something to think about.

 

[Boomregz]

If you're looking for a dottyback that is less aggressive maybe you should consider an Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis Fridmani). Great fish. I've had mine for a few weeks now.

I agree, it is a beautiful fish however mine seems to be one of the aggressive ones. My Carpenter Flasher Wrasse won't come out from under the rock. IMHO, the CFW is the better looking fish and I'm a little disappointed. MY LFS says that the CFW will eventually come out but I'm thinking he won't come out till the Orchid does. I'll keep you all posted.

(This is my first Reef Central post by the way. Hi all!)

 

[o2manyfish]

I have a Trio of Springeri, Trio of Frimandi, Flaviritex, Indigo and Sankeyi. I also have tons of timid fish. And the pseudos don't cause any issues. I've kept Springeri and Frimandi long term over the years and never has issues with them.

The Arabian is another story. And the larger pseudos have not worked out. I have yet to try the captive bred Arabians, and it will take alot of convincing for the me to take a shot with them.

Dave B

 

[ThRoewer]

BTW: I actually think juvenile springeri could actually be cleaner fish (kind of as a side business ) as their coloration is almost identical to the Red Sea cleaner wrasse.

 

[NYCBOB]

i have an orchid and a springieri together in a 90 reef. they get along well. the springieri is more aggressive, while the orchid is very passive.

 

[Moort82]

BTW: I actually think juvenile springeri could actually be cleaner fish (kind of as a side business ) as their coloration is almost identical to the Red Sea cleaner wrasse.

Its been documented for sure but I can't remember where. Never witnessed it with any I've had or bred though so perhaps a more wild instinct.

 

[snorvich]

I have a Trio of Springeri, Trio of Frimandi, Flaviritex, Indigo and Sankeyi. I also have tons of timid fish. And the pseudos don't cause any issues. I've kept Springeri and Frimandi long term over the years and never has issues with them.

The Arabian is another story. And the larger pseudos have not worked out. I have yet to try the captive bred Arabians, and it will take alot of convincing for the me to take a shot with them.

Dave B

And a 400 gallon tank makes many combinations possible that would not work in a smaller tank.