Should I try 2 orchid dottybacks in a 34g tank?

[Kinetic]

Orchid Dottybacks are known to be non-aggressive, unlike their other dottyback species.

I've heard a few people keeping pairs without a problem in tanks. But would this work in a 34G tank?

I just got an ORA captive from Diver's Den, and was thinking of maybe getting another. The current one is in the QT, so I was thinking of introducing them both into the DT at the same time.

Will a 34G tank be sufficient?

 

[radicalemonpeel]

As long as you add them at the same time, they should be OK. It also should be noted that the more hiding places and territory there is, the less likely they are to squabble over it. It's also probably a good idea to have a plan for removal of one if they do get aggressive. It all depends on the personalities of the individual fish.

 

[Kinetic]

As long as you add them at the same time, they should be OK. It also should be noted that the more hiding places and territory there is, the less likely they are to squabble over it. It's also probably a good idea to have a plan for removal of one if they do get aggressive. It all depends on the personalities of the individual fish.

Thank you!

 

[zooman72]

They should be fine if introduced at the same time in an aquarium that size, although there is still a slight risk - better if they are on the smaller side (i.e. juveniles), though with captive-bred examples they seem to be less aggressive than their wild-caught counterparts...

 

[Kinetic]

Thanks all for the input!

Well I have them both now in a ~10 gallon QT tank (prazipro currently), and they're getting along well. At first they swam together, touching the whole time. Then they started bickering a bit. One is about .5" longer, and was chasing the smaller one for a few hours. Today they aren't chasing, and just swim around ignoring each other. Both look healthy, no signs of illness. Just doing prazipro for cautionary measures in the QT, and then tomorrow I'll feed with metroplex bound pellets.

I think if they can get along in a 10g, they should be good in the display!

 

[zooman72]

Well, not sure I would have started Prazi on them right away coming from Diver's Den (as they typically provide great fish), but Prazi is rarely harmful, and one cannot be too careful. I am sure that they will work out, and they are one of my favorite fish - although to be honest, I love all pseudos/ dottybacks!

I recently got in an ORA yellow dottyback from Diver's Den and it is magnificent - fat and bright yellow, but definitely captive-bred as it is not nearly as aggressive as the wild-caught yellow pseudos typically are.

 

[Kinetic]

Well, not sure I would have started Prazi on them right away coming from Diver's Den (as they typically provide great fish), but Prazi is rarely harmful, and one cannot be too careful. I am sure that they will work out, and they are one of my favorite fish - although to be honest, I love all pseudos/ dottybacks!

I recently got in an ORA yellow dottyback from Diver's Den and it is magnificent - fat and bright yellow, but definitely captive-bred as it is not nearly as aggressive as the wild-caught yellow pseudos typically are.

Can never be too careful. I had a genicanthus come from Diver's den with marine velvet and brook all at the same time. Wiped out my fish. Never again!

 

[zooman72]

Can never be too careful. I had a genicanthus come from Diver’s den with marine velvet and brook all at the same time. Wiped out my fish. Never again!

Wow, that is something - D.D. is usually quite good! You are correct though - quarantine can really never hurt if done properly, although some species are problematic.

It is a good thing that dottybacks are typically quite resistant to disease compared to some of the other taxa.

Just curious - did you contact L.A. about the Genicanthus? I had ordered a small flame angel (on sale, and should have known better, but I have multiple quarantine tanks, so I thought I could "fix" anything) and a Heteractis crispa anemone when I ordered the dottyback - the flame was near death (extremely thin and should not have been shipped) and the anemone was the wrong species (got a H. malu instead). Since the angel and nem came from California/ Quality Marine, I wasn't too shocked, but L.A. refunded my $$$ immediately. Unfortunately the flame died in QT (wouldn't eat anything) after 3 days - their warranty is the best around bar none...

 

[Kinetic]

Wow, that is something - D.D. is usually quite good! You are correct though - quarantine can really never hurt if done properly, although some species are problematic.

It is a good thing that dottybacks are typically quite resistant to disease compared to some of the other taxa.

Just curious - did you contact L.A. about the Genicanthus? I had ordered a small flame angel (on sale, and should have known better, but I have multiple quarantine tanks, so I thought I could "fix" anything) and a Heteractis crispa anemone when I ordered the dottyback - the flame was near death (extremely thin and should not have been shipped) and the anemone was the wrong species (got a H. malu instead). Since the angel and nem came from California/ Quality Marine, I wasn't too shocked, but L.A. refunded my $$$ immediately. Unfortunately the flame died in QT (wouldn't eat anything) after 3 days - their warranty is the best around bar none...

Yeah I don't QT often enough to feel really confident about it. I worry mostly about dosages of medication and ammonia build up. But so far so good. Just every day I am freaking out and testing all of that =)

I actually don't think I'm going to use Metroplex. I don't understand how much of the medication to use in binding to food. I only sprinkle a few pellets into the QT tank, and there's no way I'm going to be able to get the right dosage with their spoon. I think I'll be OK, the fish don't seem to have any problems right now.

It was probably 5 years ago when I had the bellus / disease outbreak. I'm pretty sure LiveAquaria refunded me. That was probably the least of my concerns. They always do the right thing, but the worst of it was I lost all my fish (5x ventralis anthias, a bunch of eviota gobies, clowns, and more).

 

[zooman72]

I usually only use Prazi and chloroquine phosphate in QT, and the CP only when necessary. Actually observation for 2 weeks is usually sufficient for QT, after a freshwater dip or two, although Prazi is typically safe for most species and easy to dose.

The only time I used a medicated food was New Era's CP-infused pellets for a stubborn case cryptocaryon in a pair of pink skunk clowns, and it actually worked quite well.

It stinks that you had the one bad experience (if one is in the hobby long enough it is bound to happen), but sounds like you are currently on the right track - good luck with the orchids - makes me want to get a pair for one of my tanks honestly!

 

[Kinetic]

I usually only use Prazi and chloroquine phosphate in QT, and the CP only when necessary. Actually observation for 2 weeks is usually sufficient for QT, after a freshwater dip or two, although Prazi is typically safe for most species and easy to dose.

The only time I used a medicated food was New Era's CP-infused pellets for a stubborn case cryptocaryon in a pair of pink skunk clowns, and it actually worked quite well.

It stinks that you had the one bad experience (if one is in the hobby long enough it is bound to happen), but sounds like you are currently on the right track - good luck with the orchids - makes me want to get a pair for one of my tanks honestly!

Thanks! The orchids are still getting along, more or less. They're both in adjacent hiding places and swim out for pellets. Tomorrow is my second dose of prazipro. I'm thinking of just putting them in the DT on Friday...

You should definitely get another pair. They're so cool. The purple is just incredible.

 

[zooman72]

Thanks! The orchids are still getting along, more or less. They're both in adjacent hiding places and swim out for pellets. Tomorrow is my second dose of prazipro. I'm thinking of just putting them in the DT on Friday...

You should definitely get another pair. They're so cool. The purple is just incredible.

Good to hear that they are still "tolerating each other" - hopefully the move to a larger tank makes it even less of an issue.

I have had several species over the years (elongates and flame tails are awesome in a pico/ nano!), and currently have a purple and the "new" yellow in adjoining 40B's. I also have a sunrise in a nano at work - picked it up locally while waiting for orchids to come back in at a LFS that gets them in every so often. The sunrise was just gorgeous (couldn't pass it up), and is still very shy after a couple of months, but getting a bit better.

I do have "room" in my IM 20 (just a pair of blood clowns), so if I see any come in locally (or Diver's Den tempts me) I might just add them to the collection!

I wish you continued good luck - the tank looks great, and makes me want to pick up a mag nem again - one of our LFS has three of them (for some time now, so probably healthy, and already quite large), but they just get too big and wander a bit sometimes if they are unhappy, so I am not sure I have the room. Just means I will "live vicariously" through aquariums like yours! :thumbsup: