Pseudochromis dilectus, any keepers or info?

[Kahuna Tuna]

Just picked up two of these beautiful dottybacks from LiveAquaria, wondering if anybody keeps these. There isn't a lot of info on these fish and I have been hunting for them for quite a while.

They seem to have two slightly color patterns going on so I am really hopeful they are male/female. One has a much redder head and has more red on the fins, the other has a more yellow head and is darker overall.

Any info on these fish would be greatly appreciated

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

BTW these are pics from LiveAquaria that are a pretty close representation of the two fish I received.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Bump. So I have the fish in a 60 refugium all to themselves, the larger one is in the tank the smaller is also in there in a 6"x6"x18" acclimation box. No signs of overt aggression yet but they are just looking at each other at this point. I will try to get a pic of these beautiful little fish but they are still quite skittish.

Anyone have luck in pairing up pseudo's in general?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Very nice looking fish. Sorry I don't have any experience with them but I am sure you will enjoy them.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Thanks, they are doing well and I will try pairing them up next week and will see if I can get a pic

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I've noticed the one in the bottom photo has more color around its eye and a red line on its top. The other one doesn't. Do yours have similar/different coloration. It could be factor of age/sex

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Heres a pic from another online retailer (blue zoo). Their stock photo is the same fish but different coloration. Again, coloration could be indication of sex or region I suppose.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

There is a noted color difference between the two, the larger one has a bright orange head, the dark body begins towards the middle of the fish, and it has red in its fins.

The smaller one has a more yellowish head and the dark body begins just past the gills making the fish look darker overall than the big one, the fins are darker as well with not as much color.

I'm not sure if the color differences are a male/female example or a juvenile/adult pattern.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Oh, the pic from Blue Zoo is actually a male Pseudochromis Steeni, not a dilectus. The male steeni have nearly the same color pattern as the dilectis but you can tell them apart most easily by looking at the tail, the steeni also goes by the common name lyretail pseudochromis and has a forked tail, the dilectus tail is rounded, The steeni female has a very different color pattern, the steeni get bigger and are one of the most aggressive pseudo's on the reef.

Here is a male steeni, a fish Scott Michael called the killer pseudochromis

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Ha. I guess they need to work on their stock photos, ID, etc. lol. Keep us posted how it goes. You have a large enough tank if both end up being male...should be ok.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I hope so, the dilectus are known to be belligerent, probably even more than most other pseudo's and they get to almost 4 inches so I am really hoping they get along.

 

[o2manyfish]

I have gotten pseudos to pair up, but that is only by luck and having a large aquarium. I current have a trio of Springeri. Two of them are always following each other through the rock work.

I had a pair of Frimandi, they found a cave and just stayed near the cave together.

I have 2 Indigo from ORA. They will swim in open water together and feed together. Not sure if I would call them a pair, but there is no aggression between them.

Current Pseudo list includes
(3) Springeri
(2) Indigo
(1) Sankeye
(1) Bicolor
(1) Skunk
(1) Strawberry

Dave B

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Thanks Dave, that sounds like an amazing system. I'm concerned a 60 may not be big enough for a pair but we will see. I have paired sankey's and orchids but they are both pretty mellow compared to dilectus.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Thanks Dave, that sounds like an amazing system. I'm concerned a 60 may not be big enough for a pair but we will see. I have paired sankey's and orchids but they are both pretty mellow compared to dilectus.

They are not going in your 180?

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

The dilectus will have a 60 gallon refugium to themselves unless they don't get along in which case one of them will get moved.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Well today was the day they went into the refuge together and it started off like WW III. They are both still in hiding and neither looks badly mauled from the glimpses I catch of them. We will see how they settle in.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Well today was the day they went into the refuge together and it started off like WW III. They are both still in hiding and neither looks badly mauled from the glimpses I catch of them. We will see how they settle in.

Fingers crossed. Good luck!

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Well that didn't work out, the larger fish beat the smaller pretty badly but I was able to catch the injured fish and get it out. The big one is definitely dilectus but I am not sure about the small one, now that it is isolated and I can see it clearly I have doubts that is dilectus at all. Time will tell I guess.