orchid dottyback with firefish?

[therman]

I need some purple in my tank, and though a coral beauty would be great I dont think I could tolerate the potential devastation. Already got a royal gramma in another tank so I'd like to try something different.

Will a small tank bred orchid dottyback play nice with firefish? And do they eat snails? I like my stomatella and hawaiian strombus.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[E36328i]

Orchid Dottybacks can be real aggressive. No, they won't eat your snails (I've never seen one that did), but I have seen them devastate less-aggressive fishes to the point of starvation. With that in mind, I've also seen them do fine with skittish fish such as Firefish.

I think the most important thing with Dottybacks and the rest of their family, is tank size. How big is your tank? They are territorial so a small tank may make one a regrettable terror in a peaceful community setting.

 

[milhous3er]

I had a purple dottyback (pseudochromis) and it was an absolute terror in my tank. I introduced it with a 6line wrasse, and within days the 6line was dead. It also killed off each of my pepp shrimp, one by one. It left my GS maroon alone, and got it out before it could harass my lionfish.

 

[WuHT]

orchid and purple dottyback have very different demeanours

 

[snorvich]

If you want to keep your firefish, don't add a dottyback

 

[therman]

tank is ~100g (36x37x18)

Sounds like it's not worth the risk. Any other ideas for something smallish and purple?