Purple Dottyback?

[Irishdolphin]

Thinking about getting one of these so would like feedback from anybody that has kept one. My obvious concern is their aggressiveness. I prefer the look of them to orchid dottybacks but wondering am I better off going for orchids in a community tank (100 gallons)

 

[Nina51]

i have a purple striped dottyback in my 29g. i've had him with 2 snowflake clowns, an orange spotted goby and added a long nose hawkfish a couple of weeks ago. everything seems fine but if i had it to do over again, i woulda passed on this fish.

what else do you have in your tank? there's a great thread in the beginner forum where you can "check out your fish purchases". steve is a HUGE help when it comes to stocking!!!

 

[markalot]

In my limited experience this is one of those fish that can do well, or not, or ok until maturity and then go crazy. Similar to the six line wrasse. I have a Starry Blenny that keeps mine in check, and so far he hasn't scared a purple firefish, who is incredibly shy.

This is one of those fish I bought thinking it was something else due to bad research, and I have been lucky. Mine is in a 46 with 2 fp clowns, Starry Blenny, and a purple firefish.

 

[Irishdolphin]

what else do you have in your tank?

Not unlike you, I have 2 clowns, a longnose hawkfish and a diamond watchman goby. I also have some chromis, 2 yellow clown gobies and a carpenters wrasse

Thanks for pointing me to the other thread, will have a read of that now

How come you would have passed on him, in hindsight?

 

[Nina51]

sounds like we have the same taste in fish.

the only reason i would have passed on him is because of the potential for aggression which i did not know about because i didn't do my research and he was an impulse buy. several weeks after i added him, my cherub angel went missing and i never saw it again. i don't know what to blame that on but it's possible the dottyback dispatched him.

when i added the hawkfish, he immediately staked his claim on the opposite side of the tank from where the dottyback hangs out. if the dottyback gets near his corner, the hawkfish will chase him away. no problems at feeding time so i'm guessing i got lucky and got a dottyback that can live in harmony with his tank mates.