mixing dotty backs

[inselaffe]

I have always thought you can't mix dottybacks but my friend want to mix them in his 7x2.5x2.5 foot tank, I said i would ask on here before he did anything stupid. Has any one mixed them before?

He would like to try.

Pseudochromis splendens
pseudochromis springeri
pseudochromis flavivertex
pseudochromis flammicauda
pseudoplesiops
manonichthys alleni

Many thanks

 

[inselaffe]

does no body on here have differnt dottybacks together?

 

[Elysia]

I have not tried it, but there are some aggressive dottybacks on that list. I have read that P. sankeyi is a rather laid back dottyback, and he could probably mix that species (a captive bred one) with another of the more laid back, captive bred Red Sea species (such as a Springer's and/or an orchid.) I'm sure if you do a search you will find this topic has been covered before -- I know that there have been threads about groups of orchids in tanks, at the very least, and those threads may be helpful.

At MACNA in 2009 I talked to one of the reps from ORA, and they mentioned that they have a hard time with some of their dottybacks being rough on one another.

 

[n8ball2013]

I dont think id try it. dottybacks are the meanest little fish ive seen. They don't back down from anyone. We had a neon that was an absolute terror. He was very visible though and a beautiful fish. We now have a mcculloghi(SP) that is very reclusive and sticks to the rocks. his temperament does not seem as aggressive as the neons. FYI our neon was wild caught.

 

[treylane]

Can probably mix sankeyi and orchids (ora's got hybrids for pete's sake). Sankeyi's are model citizens. Orchids only slightly meaner.

 

[tcmfish]

Probably would only try mixing...

orchids
sankeyi
flavivertex
indigos
springeri
neon

And even then, there needs to be hiding spots! You would be much better off trying to pair a single species.

 

[Big E]

I know I've seen some of the tank bred Psuedos toghether in fish store tanks, but they are juveniles.

To me that idea looks like a major disaster & if they don't get along they are like pit bulls................fight to the death.

 

[inselaffe]

thank you i will pass on the info to him.

 

[sedor]

I think all of those together is a bit of a stretch. Maybe try introducing 2 or maybe 3 at the most together at the same time. Your chances are pretty good with such a large tank providing you have plenty of live rock for them to all build their own little territories.

 

[Sheol]

The more peaceful ones might work. Best to try a few Orchids or Sankey's together. I think the tank is big enough. But forget about some like splendens. Way too aggressive.

Matthew