Splendid dottyback - should I?

[brett559]

My LFS has a really nice splendid dottyback for $25. I've kept orchids before, but no other dottys. He's going in with a melanaurus, candy hog, two clowns, a Midas Benny, a purple fire fish, and a flame hawk.

I know they can be aggressive, but most of these fish can hold their own. Should I?

 

[ThRoewer]

I would only get it if it's small. And just in case you don't know, these get big: 5" - LA has it wrong with just 3", I've seen a fully grown female at a local LFS and it was a monster. Everyone who bought it brought it back a few days later because it was so mean.
They also like shrimp as food, so be careful if you have shrimp you want to keep.
I would never get a single as single dottybacks will become mean bastards. Pairs are usually too busy with each other.
Though these guys are best kept with larger fish.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I saw a pair of Splendids and almost bought them. The store also had a Fridmani but I was more gravitated towards the Splendids. They are cool fish.

 

[brett559]

Cool. Thanks. There was only one in the store and it was maybe 2.5". I'll have to think about it I guess. Cool fish, for sure.

 

[ca1ore]

Meh. Not all that attractive a fish, but a major attitude. I had one recently and had to rehome it as it limited my subsequent fish choices too much. Orchid much nicer looking, and less problematic.

 

[ThRoewer]

They can be very pretty and colorful, but also rather bland. It depends a lot on origin, feeding, environment and if you keep them single or in a pair/harem.
Though it's a fish I would not put with smaller or even equal sized fish.

I only ever had a small single one - back in Germany when you could only get them wild for crazy prices if at all.
That one was rather shy (tank mates were a large pair of clarkii) and rather well behaved. But then again, it was just a baby in a rather aggressive tank.

Orchids, possibly even neon dottybacks, are more peaceful choices in the long run.

Though, if I had a tank for them, I would get a pair.

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