Can dottybacks be kept in groups?

jayjay5531 · 07/21/2016, 10:09 AM

Or in pairs?

Also will they eat smaller shrimp

ryeguyy84 · 07/21/2016, 11:18 AM

My dotty back doesn't mess with my cleaner shrimp, can't comment on the pairs question

farfromsea · 07/21/2016, 05:16 PM

You have a larger tank right? 120ish? They are territorial and aggressive. They do not really exhibit shoaling behavior so a large group wouldn't really have that effect. If anything I would try a pair of the orchid dottybacks in a large tank but the risk is they eat ornamental shrimp. (another type of dottyback attacking a shrimp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psV9qDSrUMM) I think you mentioned firefish/cardinalfish in a stocking thread I think they might get bossed around by the dottybacks.

Sk8r · 07/21/2016, 08:33 PM

They're pretty pushy toward many other fish, and my suspicion is toward each other as well---I had a yellow once. They're nearly impossible to catch without major disarrangement.

Joeb1983 · 07/21/2016, 09:05 PM

I had two orchids, splendid, neon and purple stripe in mine.

The splendid and neon hashed it out for the first few days, but all was well after once territory was established.

Velvet took them all out unfortunately...

Tank was a 72x24x15.

07/21/2016, 10:09 AM	#1
jayjay5531 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 37	Can dottybacks be kept in groups? Or in pairs? Also will they eat smaller shrimp

07/21/2016, 11:18 AM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	Can dottybacks be kept in groups? My dotty back doesn't mess with my cleaner shrimp, can't comment on the pairs question __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

07/21/2016, 08:33 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They're pretty pushy toward many other fish, and my suspicion is toward each other as well---I had a yellow once. They're nearly impossible to catch without major disarrangement. __________________ 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%.

07/21/2016, 05:16 PM	#3
farfromsea Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 549	You have a larger tank right? 120ish? They are territorial and aggressive. They do not really exhibit shoaling behavior so a large group wouldn't really have that effect. If anything I would try a pair of the orchid dottybacks in a large tank but the risk is they eat ornamental shrimp. (another type of dottyback attacking a shrimp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psV9qDSrUMM) I think you mentioned firefish/cardinalfish in a stocking thread I think they might get bossed around by the dottybacks.

07/21/2016, 09:05 PM	#5
Joeb1983 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Stationed in Oklahoma, but from Florida. Posts: 597	I had two orchids, splendid, neon and purple stripe in mine. The splendid and neon hashed it out for the first few days, but all was well after once territory was established. Velvet took them all out unfortunately... Tank was a 72x24x15.