Dottyback's

[Sherri]

Anyone familiar with Dottyback's? I saw an Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani) - says very hardy...reef safe...

I haven't heard anyone mention them before...??

Sherri :rotf:

[Tim Marvin]

Great little fish, but very territorial. You will probably do best with just one. Also, if you do get one, be sure it is tank raised. ORA has some very nice ones.

[Carol]

I bought a bicolor pseudochromis at Polly's, it has been very hardy and it doesn't try to nibble my polyps or feather dusters. Since I got him, he's probably doubled in size/girth. Very healthy. He even at one point looked like he had a fungus by a fin but he healed up by himself. (I did try to pull him and out and put him in a hospital tank, but I couldn't catch him!). They are very territorial. Mine will even bully the damsels. :-D
I wish he wasn't so territorial, I'd love to have another!

Carol

[OrionN]

This is a very beautiful fish and very reef safe. It is not aggressive but can take care of itself. Almost all are tank raise these days because they are difficult fish to capture from the Red Sea only. Used to cost in the 200 dollars range before TR orchid Dottyback become available.
In a 100 g reef you can/should put in two. They pair up and spawn very easy, dominant fish becomes male, the rest females. Here in Corpus Christi, I cannot get them. The LFS would not even order them for me. I had only one for about 1 year before I was able to get the other one. The first one was from a local reefer who broke his tank down due to medical reason. The fish was sick and all faded in color. With in six month he was fat and colorful again. Six weeks after I added the juvenile Orchid Dottyback from ORA (mail order with some clams) the spawned.
Initially, the older Orchid was rough on the younger one. There were bite wounds and fins ripped. After a week or so, it was fine. When the male is guarding the eggs, he will chase the female from the den. They spawned every 2-3 weeks or so.
One word of caution: make sure you get a Orchid Dottyback, not the closely resembe but highly aggressive Strawberry Dottyback (Magenta Dottyback) The Orchid Dottyback have a slanted black line though the eyes. It is easy to tell them apart side by side. It is also easy to tell if you know how to ID them.
If you need to learn how to ID them let me know.
Minh Nguyen

[Sherri]

It didn't sink in that it was a Pseudochromis...was familiar with the bicolor. Really a pretty fish. I have a green mandrin...any problem there?

By the way Minh...I'm from the Corpus Christi area...born & raised. :-D

Has anyone had good luck ordering from Premium Aquatics? They've got a better price on the Orchid Dottyback than anyone else that I can find. They also have the blue mushroom I've been looking for. This would be my 1st online order of livestock. :-o

Also...anyone here in San Antonio need anything from Premium Aquatics? Or is it better to self order? Thinking about placing an order for these two items. Thanks again for all the info.

Sherri

[RedDragon]

well I'll get some stuff to I'll make a list once we move this to group orders :-D

[Chuck]

I have a magenta and he is supposed to be aggresive but he never bothers anyone. My Jaw fish slugs it out with him sometimes but i think the Jawfish is racist... :shock: