Mongrel Royal Dottyback

[Dreamer13]

Hiya, just after some thoughts on what I can do about my Royal Dottyback, he's being a right mongrel to my blue/green chromis, and far less nasty to my clowns. I've had him seperated from the other fish for many months in a smaller tank, but upon return, he's just as bad.
Do I just try to trade him in at my LFS (about 100 miles away!) or is there another fish I can buy, that might settle him down a bit?
The main problem I have is, I live in a regional city, where any aquarium shop that comes along, only deals in salt water marine life for a short time, then stops and only deals with freshwater, or disappears completely, and as such I have to travel to Melbourne to buy anything.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers, Paul.

 

[snorvich]

Tough problem. I do not see him settling down or any other fish putting him check. So sorry.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Yeah, if you really want to keep that guy, you'll have to replace your other fish with big 'Rambo' types. I know it's not much help now, but a better choice would have been a Royal Grama. Similar half and half coloring, but much mellower. Maybe you can make a trade.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That's typical dottyback behavior. They are very aggressive little fish.

 

[drej424]

I agree. I foolishly bought a red dotty back several years ago. Now it's about 9" and the nastiest fish. It killed my blue throat trigger. Then it started going for my majestic and gold bar maroon. It's in a 90g now where it can't terrorize any other fish. I call it the beast!
Fortunately, the royal dotty backs stay small.

 

[guidedbyechoes]

I would try putting it in a separate tank and try advertising in your local online classifieds you are will to trade him for coral or a piece of live rock or what have you.

 

[imkelz]

Nothing helped with mine, it was a jerk. He now lives with a clown in 30g. I swear he was this close to being flushed, but i felt bad.

 

[Dreamer13]

Thanks so much for the responses everyone much appreciated.

I've been thinking for a while, about starting some sort of local reef club, or just something as simple as a list of contact numbers or email addresses, and see if I can setup a frag/fish swap night, or just for people with a love of all things marine to meet and share knowledge etc.

Thanks again.

Cheers, Paul.