Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus)

JMurphy97 · 05/05/2012, 09:57 AM

My girlfriend would like me getting because of the color and I said it would be a nice color to bring into the tank as well. Only problem I see is that when reading about them I find they can be a terror to other fish. Can anyone back this up or say otherwise? I currently have two clowns and a purple firefish. I'm looking to add a blue neon gopy and maybe the dottyback into a 29 LPS/SPS tank with clams. Thanks for any advice.

TimeConsumer · 05/05/2012, 10:03 AM

I don't have experience with a purple dottyback, but I do have a bicolor dottyback in my reef. It hasn't really bothered my other fish, but it does like to eat my peppermint shrimp and emerald crabs. I'm going to remove it soon because of this.

Be wary of keeping it with morphologically similar fish like firefish and gobies.

Sk8r · 05/05/2012, 10:04 AM

TOast. At least the firefish and the goby. The dottyback is, as I recall, a relative of the wolf eel. Certainly he has some of the habits. I got a yellow dottyback into a 100 gallon reef and ultimately was willing to take that reef apart to get him out. I have never detested a fish so much as that one. Even an eel would do less damage.

I suggest you get a crocea clam for the purple color (you need high light for that one: it's photosynthetic) and go for, say, a royal gramma (fuschia/yellow) or pearly jawfish for pretty color and interesting behavior (if you have deep sand.) Your gf hasn't yet seen, I suspect, ALL the colors in the sea, and there are some very pretty ones.

wogga · 05/05/2012, 10:40 AM

+1 - expect it to kill if not at least stress-to-death the firefish and any goby. I had the diadema, which i believe is just a tad more aggressive than these guys. Definitely not a 'community' fish, unless kept with larger fish, and those who are not morphologically similar.

Another +1 to the Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto). They're readily available in the trade (usually cheap too), less likely to dictate what other species can be tolerated, exhibit pleasant behaviors, and add that flash of purple to the tank. They are particularly attractive in actinic light.

abellia · 05/05/2012, 10:58 AM

I have a purple Dottyback in a 110gallon. It's the smallest fish. Pretty much a loner. I don't see any sign of aggression from mine. My problem child is the powder brown tang. :-)

Anemone · 05/05/2012, 11:11 AM

If you like the purple color dotty, look into the fridmani. It's one of the least aggressive of the dottybacks, but there's no guarantee with your firefish, since the firefish are very docile fish and can be bullied by just about everyone.

Kevin

snorvich · 05/05/2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

If you like the purple color dotty, look into the fridmani. It's one of the least aggressive of the dottybacks, but there's no guarantee with your firefish, since the firefish are very docile fish and can be bullied by just about everyone.

Kevin

Agreed. P. fridmani is one of the last aggressive but firefish are very easily intimidated and then they hide and starve.

dzfish17 · 05/05/2012, 03:49 PM

I wouldnt add any dottyback to a 29g tank that has a firefish. I would forgo the dottyback and look at something like a blenny or cardinal.

dnLEDman · 05/05/2012, 04:24 PM

yea that firefish is gonna have problems with the dottyback

05/05/2012, 09:57 AM	#1
JMurphy97 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 397	Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus) My girlfriend would like me getting because of the color and I said it would be a nice color to bring into the tank as well. Only problem I see is that when reading about them I find they can be a terror to other fish. Can anyone back this up or say otherwise? I currently have two clowns and a purple firefish. I'm looking to add a blue neon gopy and maybe the dottyback into a 29 LPS/SPS tank with clams. Thanks for any advice. __________________ 40 Breeder + 29g sump Glass-Holes 300 Overflow - Reef Dynamics INS-100 Skimmer Eheim compact 2000 Return Pump - 2-Vortech MP10es Vortech Radion Lighting - Reef Keeper Lite Controller BRS Reactor-

05/05/2012, 10:03 AM	#2
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	I don't have experience with a purple dottyback, but I do have a bicolor dottyback in my reef. It hasn't really bothered my other fish, but it does like to eat my peppermint shrimp and emerald crabs. I'm going to remove it soon because of this. Be wary of keeping it with morphologically similar fish like firefish and gobies. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

05/05/2012, 10:04 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	TOast. At least the firefish and the goby. The dottyback is, as I recall, a relative of the wolf eel. Certainly he has some of the habits. I got a yellow dottyback into a 100 gallon reef and ultimately was willing to take that reef apart to get him out. I have never detested a fish so much as that one. Even an eel would do less damage. I suggest you get a crocea clam for the purple color (you need high light for that one: it's photosynthetic) and go for, say, a royal gramma (fuschia/yellow) or pearly jawfish for pretty color and interesting behavior (if you have deep sand.) Your gf hasn't yet seen, I suspect, ALL the colors in the sea, and there are some very pretty ones. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/05/2012, 10:40 AM	#4
wogga Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 107	+1 - expect it to kill if not at least stress-to-death the firefish and any goby. I had the diadema, which i believe is just a tad more aggressive than these guys. Definitely not a 'community' fish, unless kept with larger fish, and those who are not morphologically similar. Another +1 to the Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto). They're readily available in the trade (usually cheap too), less likely to dictate what other species can be tolerated, exhibit pleasant behaviors, and add that flash of purple to the tank. They are particularly attractive in actinic light. __________________ -Colin

05/05/2012, 11:11 AM	#6
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	If you like the purple color dotty, look into the fridmani. It's one of the least aggressive of the dottybacks, but there's no guarantee with your firefish, since the firefish are very docile fish and can be bullied by just about everyone. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

05/05/2012, 10:58 AM	#5
abellia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3	I have a purple Dottyback in a 110gallon. It's the smallest fish. Pretty much a loner. I don't see any sign of aggression from mine. My problem child is the powder brown tang. :-)

05/05/2012, 03:49 PM	#8
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	I wouldnt add any dottyback to a 29g tank that has a firefish. I would forgo the dottyback and look at something like a blenny or cardinal. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

05/05/2012, 04:24 PM	#9
dnLEDman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Baton Rouge LA Posts: 88	yea that firefish is gonna have problems with the dottyback