Pseudochromis aggressiveness

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hey,

Thinking of adding a bicolor pseudo for a splash of color in my 180. I have had pseudochromis in smaller tanks before (not this species though) and they were disasters, terrorizing everything. Will this fish be okay in a larger tank? Other fish are:

Some angels/butterflies (some dwarf)
anthias
some gobies/dartfish
clowns
hogfish
geometric hawk
eventually want to add a wrasse

Thanks!

 

[michealprater]

They will be aggressive towards anything with a similar body shape. If you wan to attempt a wrasse, I would add it before the Pseudo. I had Neon Dottybacks in a large tank, and they were still very agressive. They really do not choose an area to protect. Although the bicolor is one of the more mild ones I have seen.

 

[rkelley_10]

An orchid is beautiful and is one of the least aggressive of the pseudos

 

[Chelsey]

An orchid is beautiful and is one of the least aggressive of the pseudos

I'd like to correct this statement slightly Captive bred orchids are one of the least aggressive of the psuedochromis. Wild caught orchids are a completely different story. All of the WC orchids I've ever dealt with have been vicious!

 

[evsalty]

Psuedos = SUPER UBBER AGRESSIVE

Dotties = just a little less

Bassalets = not very much agressive

Grammas = similar to Bassalets

Also remember that they are shrimp killers.

 

[Chelsey]

Pseudochromis and dottybacks are the same thing

Quoted from Live Aquaria:
"Pseudochromis, also known as Dottybacks, are brightly colored, and reach a size of three inches..."

 

[29reef]

There's Pseudochromis sp, Gramma sp, and Serranus sp. I think the chalk basslets that are in the Serranus genus are the easiest going fish. You could also include Assessors into this group of fishes. They are very mellow and can be kept in groups

Anyways...I think you'd be fine with flavivertex or a fridmani in your tank if you want a pseudo. These fish get a bad name for their agression which is true; but put them in a large aquarium and stock them at the end and they are really fun to watch as they hunt for food.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Fridmani dottybacks are the least agressive, but unfortuantely they are also very shy. Mine is ususally hiding in the rockwork and will come out to feed then dart back into the rocks. Such a shame because it is such a beautiful fish.

 

[Elysia]

The orchids aren't the only non-aggressive dottyback. My Springer's wasn't aggressive at all (again, captive bred.) And I have heard good things about the captive bred sunrise and the captive bred black and white one (I'm drawing a blank at its name.) Then there is the captive bred hybrid between the black and white and the orchid. All are suppose to be mild mannered little fish.

Assessors are peaceful little fish. I'd say grammas are up on the aggressive scale a bit.